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Tropical disturbance now a storm
The tropical disturbance that was located near Guam earlier this week has progressed into Tropical Storm Soulik, even as it spins away from the Marianas region.
Last Wednesday, the National Weather Services in Tiyan, Guam, announced that a tropical disturbance was centered about 220 miles southeast of Guam and was causing showers and thunderstorms that was affecting the Marianas.
As of 1:04pm yesterday, the disturbance was located at 220 northwest of Guam and 210 miles west-northwest of Saipan and has been named Tropical Storm Soulik.
Soulik could further progress into a typhoon later tonight or Saturday morning as it continues to whirl away from the Marianas.
As of yesterday, Tropical Storm Soulik was moving north-northwest at 20 miles per hour and is expected to maintain this general course with a slight decrease in forward speed over the next 24 hours.
The Marianas can expect maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and hazardous surf that will carry on until Monday.
According to a weather announcement from the National Weather Services, waves and surf will remain a hazardous at 8 to 12 feet along south-facing reefs and between 7 and 10 feet along west-facing reefs that will result in high-risk rip currents.
Residents of the Marianas are encouraged to avoid venturing near reef lines and beaches.
The National Weather Services advices that, if caught in a rip current, swimmers must swim parallel to the shore and back toward the beach.
