Fung-Wong upgraded to tropical storm

(NWS) Tropical Storm Fung-wong (32W) is on the move. As of JTWC’s bulletin #8 at 1 p.m. , the 45-mph TS Fung-wong is moving NW at 14 mph.

After passing over Fais, and just NE of Ulithi, it is moving away from Ulithi and set to pass north of Yap late tonight and Friday morning.

Fung-wong is a massive system with an impressive cloud presentation on satellite imagery. Peripheral showers stretch from Palau to Guam/Rota, roughly a 900-mi diameter.

However, that is not the actual extent of the tropical storm force winds, which, based on JTWC bulletin #8, extend out to 150mi in all directions – a 300mi diameter. A gradual consolidation of the center will continue the next couple of days as Fung-wong continues to intensify – slowly over the next 24- 36 hours, then more rapidly afterwards.

For the Marianas, Guam and Rota will still see the greater impacts into Friday, notably wind gusts and bouts of heavy rains.

For Guam, we’ve had several flood advisories (for nuisance flooding) and a flood warning (for more severe flooding) issued due to bands of heavy showers moving overhead.

Winds have eased off slightly, with Fung-wong’s steady motion away; thus, we have ended the wind advisory (sustained winds no longer expected to reach 30 mph). However, we still expect strong gusts with showers.

Marine conditions will remain hazardous for a few more days, as will the showers that will be slow to drift west. Yap State, even after the passage of TS Fung-wong, will continue to see impacts from the enveloping monsoon wind field. Wet and windy conditions will persist through Saturday before easing from east to west.

Strongest winds will be from the west tonight and early Friday, then turn southwest before decreasing Saturday.

Marine conditions will also be hazardous for the next several days.

Palau will see heavy showers occasionally passing over, bringing strong gusts. Friday, winds will become more westerly and, for a couple of days, will promote hazardous conditions for small craft.

Wet and windy conditions will persist into Saturday before improving. Keep up-to-date with all the latest forecasts, watches, warnings, and advisories at our webpage, weather.gov/gum