SAIPAN – The National Weather Service has posted a high rip current risk for the Marianas through Monday afternoon along east-facing reefs, with trade winds and an elevated easterly swell driving choppy nearshore conditions across the islands.
Forecasters at the Tiyan office in Guam said east winds will run 15 to 20 mph through the day with partly sunny skies and a 20 percent chance of isolated showers. The high will reach around 86 degrees in Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
Combined seas across Marianas coastal waters are expected to remain between 6 and 8 feet for at least the first half of the week, the weather service said, driven by an elevated trade swell moving into the area. Seas are forecast at 5 to 7 feet on Monday, building to 6 to 8 feet overnight. Sea heights will stay below levels hazardous to small craft despite the choppier conditions, according to the weather service.
Showers become more widespread overnight with a 40 percent chance of scattered showers and lows around 78. Tuesday returns to a partly sunny pattern with highs around 87 and a 20 percent chance of isolated showers.
At Tanapag Harbor in Saipan, high tide reaches 2.3 feet at 7:00 a.m. and low tide drops to -0.8 feet at 2:49 p.m. A second high tide of 2.5 feet arrives at 10:42 p.m.
Sunrise was at 5:54 a.m. and sunset is at 6:40 p.m.