


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Tiyan, Guam
Issued by NWS Tiyan, Guam
040 FXPQ50 PGUM 190634 AFDGUM Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tiyan GU 434 PM ChST Tue Aug 19 2025 .Marianas Synopsis... Satellite imagery shows the majority of convection west of Guam with some showers and thunderstorms building in western Guam waters this afternoon. Patchier showers are seen across Guam and over eastern and southern waters. Over the CNMI, mid to upper-level clouds persist, with lesser shower development over the islands. && .Discussion... A broad tropical disturbance, Invest 90W, is about 350 miles southwest of Guam. Based on last night`s airport observations, wind gusts did reach up to 36 mph on Guam and up to 31 mph on Saipan. As 90W continues to move westward away from the region, conditions will continue to improve. Due to more active weather to the south and southwest, Guam can expect scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms throughout the night. Meanwhile, showers are expected to increase to scattered for the CNMI closer to midnight. Lack of organized convection across model guidance makes it somewhat difficult to time showers for the remainder of the forecast period, but generally expect brief periods of scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms this week and over the weekend due to weak troughs and convergence in the trade-wind pattern.. && .Marine/Surf... Buoy data showed seas reaching up to 5 to 7 feet last night, but has gradually subsided since this morning. Combined seas of of 3 to 5 feet and light to gentle winds are expected through the week and over the weekend. There will be a moderate risk of rip currents along east facing reefs through at least Thursday. A slight decrease in the swell may allow the risk of rip currents to become low along all reefs late week or over the weekend. && .Tropical Systems... JTWC`s Invest 90W was located near 11N137E as of 06z. Invest 90W continues to remain disorganized with no clear low level circulation. The developmental chances for 90W have been downgraded to low, which means that development into a tropical cyclone is unlikely within 24 hours. Little to no additional impacts are expected for the Marianas or western Micronesia beyond scattered showers over the next day. For more details on Invest 90W, please see the JTWC bulletin APBW10 PGTW. && .Eastern Micronesia... The main items of interest are a trough currently passing overhead at Pohnpei, an area of enhanced convergence south of Majuro that`s approaching Kosrae, and a trough crossing the Date Line. All these features are associated with a weak ITCZ that is currently forming. Pohnpei: As the trough moves out during the evening, showers will become isolated in coverage. Isolated showers will remain possible through Thursday, before the Date Line trough brings increasing rainfall potential towards the weekend. Kosrae: An area of convergence to your east will move overhead tonight into Wednesday, increasing your potential for shower and thunderstorm development, especially after midnight tonight. Scattered showers and the occasional thunderstorm will occur through late Wednesday night/Thursday morning, before rainfall becomes more isolated Thursday afternoon. However, the Date Line trough then moves in for Friday and into your weekend, with scattered showers returning. Majuro: An area of deeper moisture and convergence has bypassed you to the south. The next forecast challenge was trying to determine if and when enough moisture and convergence with the trough to your east would be sufficient to increase shower coverage. We were tempted to bring scattered showers into the forecast Wednesday night, but opted to hold off until Thursday for this as upstream satellite imagery isn`t overly impressive, and the models show the best juxtaposition of moisture and convergence occurring Thursday as the ITCZ becomes more focused. Then, scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will persist into the weekend. Marine (all locations): Mainly light to gentle winds with seas of 4 to 6 feet will prevail through the weekend. However, locally higher winds and waves will occur as the ITCZ develops, mainly near any heavier shower or thunderstorm that develops. && .Western Micronesia... Satellite imagery depicts isolated showers over Palau, scattered showers over Yap, and numerous showers entering Chuuk. Altimetry data shows combined seas between 3 to 5 feet across Palau and Yap and 4 to 6 feet across Chuuk. Overall, not much has changed from the previous forecast package. Invest 90W is now located near 11N137E and will continue to move away from the region. Scattered showers related to Invest 90W will continue tonight for Yap and through tomorrow for Palau. The next trough that is set to move across western Micronesia is currently moving across Chuuk today, bringing numerous showers to Weno tonight. This trough is expected to reach Yap Proper on Thursday and Palau on Thursday night. This trough looks to kick off an active period for Palau and Yap where guidance shows a weak and broad circulation developing within the trough. This will lead to high end (50%) scattered to numerous showers. The pattern looks to remain active into the weekend for Yap and Palau as a monsoon like pattern looks to develop. For Chuuk, a downtrend in shower activity is still expected for the second half of the week but another tropical wave looks to move across the region this weekend, bringing increased shower coverage. Little change was made to the marine forecast. Combined seas are forecasted to fall to 3 to 5 feet for Chuuk on Wednesday with little change in sea height expected through the week for western Micronesia. && .GUM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GU...None. MP...None. Marianas Waters...None. && $$ Marianas: Cruz East Micronesia: Doll West Micronesia: Williams