SANTA RITA, Guam — The U.S. Coast Guard is warning that Tropical Storm Sinlaku could reach typhoon strength by Saturday and make a very close approach to Guam Monday night into Tuesday, as port conditions across all four ports in the Marianas begin to close and the public is urged to take protective action now.
According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Sinlaku is located approximately 500 nautical miles east-southeast of Guam, moving slowly northwest. The National Weather Service Guam Weather Forecast Office warns that damaging tropical storm-force winds of 39 mph or greater are possible for Guam as early as Sunday, with destructive typhoon-force winds possible Monday night or early Tuesday morning.
The Captain of the Port Guam set Port Heavy Weather Condition X-ray for all four Marianas ports at 1 p.m. Friday, limiting vessel movements and ceasing cargo operations. Port Heavy Weather Condition Yankee, requiring all vessels to be secured in port or at anchor and prohibiting vessels from entering port, is set for 1 p.m. Saturday. Port Heavy Weather Condition Zulu, closing all ports to vessel movement, is expected late Sunday, timed 12 hours before the onset of tropical storm-force winds.
Coast Guard cutters homeported in Apra Harbor are scheduled to depart the island ahead of tropical storm-force winds. The Coast Guard said the repositioning is standard practice and not a withdrawal of support, preserving the ability to return for post-storm search and rescue operations. Station Apra Harbor personnel are hauling 45-foot Response Boats out of the water Friday and trailering 29-foot Response Boats to protect them from storm surge and debris.
The Coast Guard is urging the public to stay out of the water immediately. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect through 6 p.m. Sunday, with seas of 8 to 14 feet and increasing. A Rip Current Statement remains in effect.
The public is also warned not to rely on the Coast Guard or other first responders to retrieve unsecured water equipment. Kayaks, paddleboards, jet skis and outboard motors that break loose during the storm will not be retrieved during storm operations. Vessel owners at public marinas are urged to remove or secure small vessels now, as sunken or damaged vessels after a storm create environmental hazards and recovery costs fall on owners.
The Coast Guard emphasized that social media is not monitored by watchstanders or emergency responders. Anyone in distress should call 911 for shore-based emergencies, transmit a mayday call on VHF-FM Channel 16, or activate a Personal Locator Beacon if available. First responders will be sheltered during the height of the storm and will begin response operations once it is safe to do so.
