Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Tiyan, Guam
Issued by NWS Tiyan, Guam
092 FXPQ50 PGUM 110747 AFDGUM Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tiyan GU 547 PM ChST Thu Dec 11 2025 .Marianas Synopsis... Satellite imagery shows partly cloudy skies. Radar imagery shows no showers over the region. Altimetry shows combined seas of 6 to 8 feet, while buoy data shows 6 to 7 feet. && .Discussion... The main weather maker for this discussion is the shear line that is just north of Saipan`s coastal waters. This feature is expected to be somewhat quasi-stationary with a slow southward motion. Over the next 24 to 36 hours, breaks in the cloud formations are anticipated as the shear line begins to weaken and fragment. Current model estimations suggest the shear line will fizzle out before it gets over Saipan. Winds will remain the main concern even after the shear line fizzles out. Winds are expected to be around 15 to 20 mph for Guam and Rota. Winds over Tinian are expected to be slightly lower than Saipan but remain in the range of 15 to 25 mph. && .Marine... The coastal regions is where the shear line from above is expected to have the most effect on. Over Saipan`s northern waters, scattered showers may occur, there is also a very small potential for "one hit wonder" thunderstorms. Regardless, these showers are expected to be short lived over the next 24 hours or so. Wind and seas are expected to rise over the weekend before gradually tapering down by the middle of next week. Models indicate that the peak sea height is anticipated to arrive on Sunday. Sea heights are expected to be the highest in Saipan`s waters and the lowest in Guam`s. Seas could reach up to 11 feet. This will also coincide with a larger northeasterly pulse from a distant mid-latitude system. High Surf Advisory (HSA), High Risk of Rip Currents (HRRC) and Small Craft Advisory (SCA) are very possible once this shear line gets a bit closer, however, at this time it is too soon to tell the onset of these advisories and statement`s conditions. && .Eastern Micronesia... Partly cloudy skies with spotty showers are seen over Pohnpei with mostly cloudy skies and scattered showers at Kosrae and Majuro. Altimetry shows seas between 4 and 6 feet across the region with Kosrae and Pohnpei buoys agreeing with this, showing seas between 4 and 6 feet as well. The main feature seen across eastern Micronesia this afternoon is an Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) that pushed into the region overnight. This feature is interacting with an upper-level low, to produce numerous to widespread showers and a few thunderstorms east of Majuro. Bands of scattered showers are expected to move out of this area and across Majuro through the night. By Friday morning, the ITCZ is expected to be just south of Majuro, maintaining scattered showers through the day. By Friday afternoon, the ITCZ looks to break apart, with drier conditions moving into Majuro. For Kosrae, the ITCZ is seen near the island, producing scattered showers across the island tonight. By Friday morning, expect a brief drier period. By Friday evening, the ITCZ looks to strengthen a bit over the island, bringing scattered showers back through the weekend. By Monday, a dry trade-wind pattern is expected to return to the area. For Pohnpei, a dry pattern looks to continue into the weekend. By Saturday evening, a fragment of the ITCZ looks to move into the state, bringing increased convection to Pohnpei through Sunday afternoon. A dry trade-wind pattern is then expected to return for the beginning of next week. For the marine forecast, the main change is for an increasing north swell moving into the region early next week. This swell was bumped up about a foot for a brief period Monday and possibly into Tuesday. Seas are expected to reach as high as 8 feet at Pohnpei and Majuro, and up to 7 feet for Kosrae. Primarily gentle to moderate winds are expected into next week, with Majuro seeing a brief period of lower winds while Pohnpei could see occasional fresh winds next week. && .Western Micronesia... A near-equatorial trough (NET) remains stretched out across the southern half of the region. Fairly quiet weather persists north of this boundary, across the main islands of Palau, Yap, and Chuuk. Over the next few days, an uptick in clouds and showers are expected at times as trade-wind troughs move through Yap and Palau. Then, trade-wind convergence looks to increase north of the NET axis, initially increasing showers at Palau and Chuuk early next week. Altimetry data continues to show combined seas of 4 to 6 feet near Palau and 5 to 7 feet for Yap and Chuuk, which is comprised of primary northeast trade swell and a background north to northeast swell. The north to northeast swell is expected to further weaken over the next day or so as it becomes indistinct from the trade swell. However, seas look to increase a foot or so this weekend in response to an increase in northeast to east trade swell and wind waves. Pulses of long-period north swell emanating from distant mid- latitude systems are expected to arrive at Chuuk starting early next week, then to Yap and Palau around Tuesday. Model guidance indicates patchy areas of moderate to strong winds south of the shear line, as it begins to fragment north of 15N. Gentle to moderate winds look to persist at Palau over the next several days, but moderate to fresh winds with strong gusts at times are expected at Yap and Chuuk over the weekend and early next week. && .GUM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GU...None. MP...None. Marianas Waters...None. && $$ Marianas: Bowsher East Micronesia: Kleeschulte West Micronesia: Cruz