SAIPAN — The National Weather Service in Guam’s weekly regional outlook issued Tuesday confirms that Invest 90W continues to drift northwest near Pohnpei and is expected to gradually develop, with the Marianas facing the potential for increasing showers, thunderstorms and gusty winds developing over the weekend and into early next week.
The outlook, prepared by Ken Kleeschulte, acting science operations officer, said the exact timing and eventual track of the system remain uncertain. NWS said it is still unclear whether 90W will head directly toward the Marianas or track more to the northeast or south of the islands.
“Though development into a tropical cyclone is possible, the exact timing and eventual track is uncertain,” the outlook stated. NWS added that 90W is not expected to develop into a significant tropical cyclone over the next couple of days.
For the Marianas in the near term, a trade-wind trough moving through the islands Tuesday is bringing partly sunny to mostly cloudy skies and scattered showers. The trough is expected to move west overnight, with drier conditions expected Wednesday and Thursday. An ongoing trade-wind surge east of the Marianas is keeping east swells elevated, supporting a high risk of rip currents along east-facing reefs through at least Wednesday afternoon. Seas may become hazardous again later this week and into early next week.
Current advisories in effect for the Marianas include a High Risk of Rip Currents for Guam and the CNMI.
Across central Micronesia, unsettled weather will continue through midweek as Invest 90W drifts north-northwest. Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae can expect scattered to numerous showers with locally heavy rainfall and isolated thunderstorms through midweek, with gusts to 35 mph possible. High Surf Advisories are in effect for Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for Chuuk.
On drought conditions, the outlook noted that extreme drought continues for Utirik and nearby Marshall Islands atolls, with severe drought persisting across Wotje. The Marianas remain drought-free, with near- to above-normal rainfall expected in the coming weeks.
