Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Tiyan, Guam
Issued by NWS Tiyan, Guam
195 FXPQ50 PGUM 210808 AFDGUM Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tiyan GU 608 PM ChST Mon Sep 21 2026 .Marianas Synopsis... Satellite imagery and doppler radar show light showers across Guam and Rota, with little to no showers across Saipan and Tinian. Altimetry shows combined seas are between 4 and 6 ft across the region. && .Discussion... Overall, the main change driving this forecast package is the designation of Invest 91W by the JTWC and its subsequent upgrade to "Low" status. Currently, guidance does not develop 91W into a tropical cyclone until well west of the Marianas. During its disorganized stage, it likely will bring heavy rainfall to Guam over the next couple of days. Numerous locally heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected for Guam Tuesday through Tuesday night, with high-end (50%) scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms for the CNMI. Model guidance ranges from 2 to 5 inches of rain across Guam through Wednesday evening and 1 to 3 inches of rain across the CNMI. See the Hydrology section for more details. As Invest 91W lifts off to the northwest, the monsoon trough looks to lift north of the region, shifting the active wet phase of the monsoon over the Marianas. See Tropical Weather Discussion for more details. Currently, scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms through the period are forecasted. Shower coverage could increase across the region late this week and into the weekend depending on the setup monsoon trough. If Invest 91W tracks southerly, it could keep the monsoon trough further south over the Marianas. This would put under a col where island effect showers would be possible, similar to what we saw this past weekend. For now, the focus is heavy rainfall on Tuesday and Wednesday, but if the Marianas see additional rainfall during the first half of the week, flooding concerns would increase heading into the weekend. && .Marine... Benign seas of 4 to 6 feet will continue before falling 1 to 2 feet during the second half of the week. Some choppy seas would be possible for Guam near heavier showers Tuesday and Wednesday. There is a moderate risk for rip currents along all reefs through Tuesday, and then for north and east facing reefs through Friday. && .Hydrology... A Flash Flood Watch has been issued for Guam beginning 10 AM Tuesday until 10 PM Wednesday, calling for 2 to 5 inches of rain across Guam during the timeframe. Much of Guam saw 2 to 4 inches of rain since this past Saturday, which has kept soils wet. An additional 2 to 5 inches of rain would lead to flash flooding due to the wet antecedents. The main challenge is for the potential for Invest 91W to shift further west during its development, leading to less rainfall for Guam. Some of the recent 00z runs coming out after the forecast package have shown this shift. The main culprit of this shift is displacement of the low-level vorticity to the west of a Mid-Level Circulation (MLC). Models are keeping the MLC weak while quickly ramping up the low level vorticity into a Low-Level Circulation (LLC). If the focus of convection shifts to the LLC, then rainfall amounts would be considerably lower for Guam, keeping the risk for Flash Flooding low. Latest satellite trends seem to be favoring both with new towers going up along the developing LLC, but some towers have also developed along the southern and eastern edges of the MLC. This adds uncertainty in the forecast. Currently, residents of Guam should prepare for heavy rainfall starting Tuesday as Invest 91W develops. Conditions will continue to be monitored through the night for significant changes. && .Tropical Systems... A developing disturbance, Invest 91W, is found south of Guam, centered near 11N144E. 91W is now rated low, meaning that development into a significant tropical cyclone is not expected over the next 24 hours, but will be possible over the next few days. 91W resides on the northern edge of the monsoon trough. Convection is sparse to the northern half of 91W, however, showers are increasing in this area. Convection remains very active on the south side. Invest 91W will slowly move northwest over the coming days. For more information on Invest 91W, see bulletins issued by JTWC under WMO header ABPW10 PGTW. && .Eastern Micronesia... The main concern this afternoon is a strong monsoon surge over the Marshall Islands, producing scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms across Majuro with reports of gale-force winds and gusts across the atoll. A short-term Gale Warning was issued for majuro coastal waters through Tuesday at 3 AM ChST. The latest ASCAT does show an area of 30+ knot winds south of and over Majuro. This surge will maintain near-gale to gale force winds and gusts through the night. Stronger gusts are likely with heavier showers. Winds should decrease early in the morning, falling below gale force around 3 AM ChST. For the remainder of the forecast, an overall unsettled pattern looks to continue across Majuro into the weekend. For Pohnpei and Kosrae, an overall dry pattern is in place and looks to continue through most of the week. As the monsoon trough drifts a bit farther south late in the week and over the weekend. expect a weak monsoon surge to develop across Pohnpei and Kosrae, bringing increased convection to Pohnpei Friday and to Kosrae Saturday. As mentioned earlier, a Gale Warning is now in effect for Majuro, through Tuesday at 3 AM ChST. Seas look to remain below hazardous levels, though seas will be choppy due to large wind waves produced by the monsoon surge. Winds will subside quickly by Tuesday morning, dropping below 25 knots by 3 AM. For Pohnpei and Kosrae, benign winds and seas look to continue through the week. && .Western Micronesia... A special weather statement remains in effect for Yap State and has expanded to include Palau. Heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected through the middle of next week, and gusty winds at times near these heavy showers. The main features of the region are Invest 91W and the monsoon flow. 91W is located near 11N144E and is embedded in the monsoon flow over the northern portion of Western Micronesia. Within both features heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms are to be expected. Winds may approaching the frequent 22 knots or frequent gusts to 25 knots threshold for small craft, especially on Tuesday night at Yap. For Palau, showers are currently scattered and expected to build into widespread over the evening hours as the monsoon pattern is expected to move south over the region. Model guidance suggests and 1 to 2 inches of rain to fall per day through Wednesday, then taper down to 0.5 inches for Thursday. Benign weather is anticipated to return for the weekend. Seas are expected to remain 4 to 6 feet with winds light to moderate. For Yap, there will be widespread locally heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms. Wind gusts near these heavier showers may reach to 25 knots (or 30mph) at times. Showers may begin to wane as early as Wednesday. Rain totals are anticipated to be 1 to 2 inches a day, then showers are anticipated to taper down around Thursday. Benign weather is anticipated to return for the weekend. Seas are expected to be 5 to 6 feet through Wednesday. tapering down to 3 to 5 feet for the latter half of the week. For Chuuk today, a surface trough interacting with some mid-level convergence has produced scattered showers for the region. These showers have weakened to isolated and is mostly cloud cover. There still remains some convergence surface, however, without more tightening of the streamline or another trough passing through, showers are expected to be isolated through the remainder of the week. Seas are expected to be 4 to 6 feet through about Wednesday, then drop by a foot for the later half of the week. && .GUM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GU...None. MP...None. Marianas Waters...None. && $$ Marianas: Williams East Micronesia: Kleeschulte West Micronesia: Bowsher