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Phanfone now a typhoon, moves farther away
»People advised of hazardous surf of 7 to 9 feet
Tropical Storm Phanfone intensified into a typhoon but it no longer poses a threat to land areas in the Marianas as it moved farther away yesterday from Saipan and the Northern Islands.
As of 7pm yesterday, Phanfone’s center was 245 miles west of Pagan, 325 miles northwest of Saipan and Tinian, and 375 miles north northwest of Guam.
Packing maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour, the typhoon was moving northwest at about 17 mph, according to the U.S. National Weather Service in Guam.
Phanfone is expected to intensity in the two days.
As early as 2pm yesterday, the tropical storm warning had already been canceled for Pagan and Alamagan and surrounding waters.
The National Weather Service, however, issued a high surf advisory that is in effect until 6am Saturday.
For Saipan and Tinian, hazardous surf of 7 to 9 feet is expected along west and south facing reefs starting last night through Friday night.
For Rota and Guam, hazardous surf of 7 to 9 feet was expected along north, west and south facing reefs last night. Surf will fall below hazardous levels along north facing reefs early today, Thursday. Along west and south facing reefs, it will remain hazardous at 7 to 9 feet through Friday night.
The National Weather Service advised people to avoid venturing near exposed reefs and beaches especially those along north, west and south facing reefs as rip currents are life threatening.
