Saipan — Boaters in Rota coastal waters should seek safe harbor immediately as strong thunderstorms move through the area, Homeland Security and Emergency Management said in a special weather statement Wednesday afternoon.
Satellite imagery at 2:44 p.m. showed strong thunderstorms capable of producing winds to around 30 knots and frequent lightning, moving east at 25 knots. Mariners can expect gusty winds, locally higher waves and lightning strikes until the storms pass.
The statement warned that intense lightning is occurring with these storms. Anyone caught on open water should stay below deck if possible and keep away from ungrounded metal objects.
Governor David M. Apatang advised all mariners to take extra precautionary measures on the water. The statement is based on information from the National Weather Service in Tiyan compiled at the CNMI Emergency Operations Center State Warning Point.
The storms arrive on the same afternoon CUC plans to energize Rota’s Feeder 2 at around 5 p.m., a schedule the utility has said depends on repairs, testing and safety checks being completed.
