Tropical Weather Discussion
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
229 AXPQ20 PGUM 220102 TWDPQ Tropical Weather Discussion National Weather Service Tiyan GU 1102 AM ChST Fri Nov 22 2024 Tropical Weather Discussion for the Western North Pacific between the Equator and 25N from 130E to 180. The following information is based on recent satellite imagery/data, weather observations, radar, and meteorological analysis. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... None. ...OTHER WEATHER SYSTEMS... TRADE-WIND TROUGHS... A shallow trade-wind trough is seen just west of Palau, extending southeast from around 8N132E to around 5N138E. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are seen across the area near the trough axis, mainly focused to the southeast of Palau where surface convergence is stronger. This trough will gradually shift further west of Palau over the next few days, and showers will move away with it. A few sharp trade-wind troughs are seen over east Micronesia within a fragmented Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). The first trough extends northeast from the south of Kosrae near EQ161E, to the west of Majuro near 8N168E. The second, weaker trough is located east of the Marshall Islands, extending northeast from around 3N174E, exiting Guam`s Area of Responsibility (AOR) near 7N180. Numerous showers and isolated thunderstorms are seen along the trough axis south and east of Kosrae, covering much of the central RMI. To the east, showers are scattered along the second trough axis, becoming numerous near the Date Line where the trough intersects the ITCZ. These troughs look to gradually merge into one broad east-west oriented trough as the ITCZ organizes over the next day or so, shifting slightly further north and west across the Marshall Islands. A portion of the trough breaks off and shifts west across Pohnpei and Chuuk come Sunday, flexing northwest toward the Marianas and increasing showers across the area through the midweek. TRADE-WIND SURGE... Scatterometry data from overnight and this morning show a broad area of moderate to fresh trade winds east of the Marianas, from roughly 7N to 17N, and around 155E to 180. Fresh trade winds are also seen in a narrower band south of the Marianas. Model trends point to strengthening trade winds across the region over the next few days, in response to a broad-scale tightening in the pressure gradient. This moderate trade wind surge looks to extend westward across the Marianas over the coming days as well, as the subtropical ridge strengthens north of the islands. The Marianas will see gradually increasing wind speeds today and tonight, with moderate to fresh trades expected, maintaining at this level for much of the weekend. The trade surge will be most felt late Sunday night through early next week as sustained winds increase further, exceeding 20 mph at times. This will contribute to higher, choppier seas, which could potentially become hazardous to small craft at times next week. Trade winds will gradually relax by the end of next week as the pressure gradient slackens. ITCZ... A fragmented ITCZ enters the AOR at around 8N180, extending west- southwest across the central Marshall Islands and ending east of Kosrae near 6N165E. Within this area, scatterometry data this morning shows generally moderate east-southeast flow near and south of 7N, and fresh east to east-northeast flow north of roughly this latitude. Numerous showers and isolated thunderstorms are seen along the ITCZ near the axis of an embedded trade-wind trough, spreading across much of the RMI south of Kwajalein Atoll and north of Ebon Atoll, including over Ailinglaplap, Jaluit, and Majuro Atolls. Showers are scattered along the ITCZ elsewhere, over eastern Kosrae State and spanning the area east of the Marshalls continuing through the Date Line. The ITCZ looks to continue to organize slightly over the next few days as it extends westward, bringing showers over Kosrae, Pohnpei, and later Chuuk this weekend. Early next week, an ITCZ-like fragment looks to flex northward toward the Marianas as a strong low-pressure system transits the central North Pacific, bringing showers near the islands through midweek. $$ DeCou