Guam to be placed in COR 2 this afternoon; Sinlaku intensifies, likely to shift slightly north or south

By Pacific Island Times News Staff

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Rear Adm. Brett Mietus anticipate placing Guam and military bases in Condition of Readiness 2 and Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness 2, respectively, at 5 p.m. today.

At COR2, the government of Guam, except for essential services, will not operate until COR 4 is announced. For TCCOR 2, JRM is finalizing closing times for the remaining military services, with details released later today.

Officials advise residents to use this time to complete final preparations and limit movement to essential activities.

A typhoon watch remains in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan, meaning typhoon conditions, including winds of 74 mph or more, are possible within 48 hours.

Although the latest forecast track has shifted slightly north, residents and visitors of Guam should remain prepared.

With any shift of the track, Guam can still potentially experience strong category 4 typhoon winds, including 120mph to 130mph winds.

There is no secondary system following Sinlaku being monitored at this time. 

Tropical storm force winds of 39 mph or more are anticipated to begin affecting the Marianas Monday evening. Typhoon force winds, of 74 mph or more, remain possible for Guam and Rota Tuesday morning into early Wednesday morning. Typhoon Sinlaku is forecast to pass through the Marianas as a Category 4 typhoon. 

Fananu in Chuuk State is currently under a typhoon warning. Chuuk and Ulul in Chuuk State are currently under a tropical storm warning. Ulul, Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan are under a typhoon watch.

However, models continue to show a slight spread where Sinlaku’s track could shift slightly north or south, though these ranges are narrowing and will continue to narrow over the next 12-24 hours.

Pohnpei State is still seeing some heavy showers, but this will continue to decrease as Typhoon Sinlaku slowly moves away from Pohnpei. For the Marianas, a windy but relatively dry trade-wind pattern remains in place today, but as TY Sinlaku closes in, conditions will deteriorate sometime Monday morning.

The Marianas should prepare for the potential of Tropical Storm- or Typhoon-Force winds, with the most likely arrival of Tropical Storm-Force winds around Monday. For the far northern Mariana Islands, breezy and choppy conditions are expected late this week and into early next week, with a potential for Tropical Storm Force-Winds around Tuesday.

Yap State will see northerly winds becoming westerly over the next few days, with seas and winds likely building to hazardous levels for small craft today and into next week.