SAIPAN — The Joint Typhoon Warning Center upgraded Invest 92W to Tropical Depression 17W early Wednesday, and the National Weather Service in Guam is telling Guam and CNMI residents to plan and prepare for possible impacts from a passing tropical cyclone while conditions remain calm.
As of 1 a.m. Wednesday, 17W was centered near 7.9 degrees north, 154.9 degrees east, about 190 miles northeast of Chuuk and about 284 miles southeast of Guam, moving west at 2 to 3 mph with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph, the weather service said. It is the 17th tropical cyclone of 2026 in the western North Pacific.
The depression is forecast to turn toward the north-northwest as it steadily intensifies, and it could reach tropical storm strength by late Wednesday evening.
For Guam and the CNMI, the weather service said the level of impacts and the system’s potential intensity are still under analysis as it evolves over the next several days. “Plan and prepare now while local weather conditions are fair and favorable,” the weather service said, urging residents to monitor the latest forecasts and communications from NWS Guam and local emergency management. Forecast tracks have kept 17W east of Guam and Saipan, though the weather service said earlier that the passage would be uncomfortably close later this week. No tropical cyclone watches or warnings are in effect.
Across the Federated States of Micronesia, heavy rainfall and gusty winds are occurring in portions of Chuuk and Pohnpei states, with gusty winds and locally heavy showers still possible for Kosrae as the center moves north and rain bands wrap around the system. Surging west to southwest winds south of the depression continue across Kosrae, Pohnpei and Chuuk states, following days of rain that brought flash flooding reports from Chuuk and mudslides on Kosrae.
The upgrade caps a rapid escalation over roughly 18 hours: Tuesday morning’s marine forecast noted a wetter weekend “may be in store,” CNMI emergency officials issued a preparedness advisory at midday, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center posted a formation alert in the afternoon and the depression was declared after midnight.
The forecast timeline runs directly into the 80th Liberation Day weekend, with festivities opening Friday at the Civic Center in Susupe and the parade Saturday morning along Quartermaster Road.
