SAIPAN — Friday offers Saipan and Tinian a final stretch of manageable weather before Tropical Storm Saudel’s outer edge arrives after midnight, bringing possible tropical storm conditions and seas beyond hazardous levels through the weekend, the National Weather Service said in its 6 a.m. forecast.
Today runs partly cloudy with isolated morning showers, scattered island effect showers and isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon, highs around 87 and a 40 percent shower chance — with light winds turning northwest around 10 mph.
The turn comes tonight. Tropical storm conditions are possible, with scattered showers becoming numerous and heavy after midnight, west winds of 10 to 15 mph increasing to 25 to 40 mph after midnight and a 60 percent shower chance.
Saturday through Sunday, tropical storm conditions remain possible: cloudy with periods of rain, widespread heavy showers and scattered thunderstorms, southwest winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 50 mph, highs near 84 and shower chances at 90 percent. Cloudy, showery weather lingers into midweek.
On the water, conditions deteriorate quickly late tonight. Tropical storm-force winds are possible for Saipan and Tinian coastal waters after midnight through Saturday night or Sunday, with seas of 7 to 9 feet building to 9 to 10 feet overnight and 8 to 12 feet Saturday — exceeding hazardous levels. Guam and Rota waters run 7 to 9 feet over the weekend.
Rota’s land forecast is gentler: breezy Saturday with southwest winds of 15 to 25 mph, turning cloudy and windy Saturday night into Sunday with numerous heavy showers, winds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts to 40 mph possible near heavier showers.
A tropical storm watch remains in effect for Saipan and Tinian, with a typhoon watch for Alamagan, Pagan and Agrihan. A high rip current risk for east-facing reefs begins at 3 p.m. today.
At Tanapag Harbor, low tide of 0.3 feet comes at 8:41 a.m. Friday, a 1.7-foot high at 5:25 p.m., a 1.9-foot high at 12:59 a.m. Saturday and a 0.2-foot low at 9:40 a.m. Saturday.
