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Tapah moves away from Saipan; will affect Pagan, Alamagan
Tropical Storm Tapah intensified into a typhoon but moved farther away from Tinian and Saipan yesterday. It will begin to affect Pagan and Alamagan early today, Wednesday, according to the Guam-based National Weather Service.
As of 4pm yesterday, a tropical storm warning and a typhoon watch remained in effect for Alamagan and Pagan.
At this time, the center of Typhoon Tapah was 130 miles southeast of Alamagan, 150 miles southeast of Pagan, 145 miles northeast of Saipan, 160 miles northeast of Tinian, and 220 miles northeast of Rota.
At 2:30pm yesterday, a tropical storm warning for Saipan and Tinian was canceled.
Tropical storm warning means tropical storm force winds of up to 39 miles per hour to 73 mph are possible within 24 hours. Typhoon watch means typhoon force winds of 74 mph or greater are possible.
Contrary to an NWS forecast on Monday, no heavy rains occurred on Saipan yesterday; in fact, it was a bit sunny.
NWS said yesterday that Typhoon Tapah’s tropical storm force winds and heaviest shower activity have moved out of Saipan waters to the northeast.
As of 4pm yesterday, Typhoon Tapah was moving north at 8 miles per hour mph and was packing maximum winds of 75 mph.
NWS said Tapah is expected to intensify slightly through Monday night then begin to gradually weaken today, Wednesday.
