Published: July 30,2014
In July alone there have been three typhoons in the western Pacific. Now another tropical cyclone swept through an area not hard hit by the previous three: Guam.
(TYPHOON RECAPS: Matmo | Rammasun | Neoguri)
Tropical Storm Halong is now centered about 120 miles north-northwest of Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.
Recent satellite images and National Weather Service Doppler radar from Andersen Air Force Base indicate Halong's center is now partially exposed, due to wind shear, one factor that likely has held Halong's intensity in check the past 24 hours. In fact, one satellite estimate from the University of Wisconsin suggests Halong may barely be a tropical storm.
Heavy rain associated with Halong wrapped into Guam, Rota and the northern Mariana Islands Wednesday. Through Thursday morning local time, Andersen AFB, Guam had picked up 16.69 inches of rain from the tropical storm.
Low-lying areas of Guam reported flooding, including the tourist hub of Tumon on Guam's west coast Wednesday. One road was reportedly washed out in the village of Mangilao on Guam's eastern shore. Flooding drove three families from their homes in the village of Barrigada, according to the Governor of Guam's Joint Information Center.
Guam International Airport measured several peak wind gusts over 40 mph Wednesday, including a peak gust of 53 mph just after 10:30 a.m. local time. (Guam is 14 hours ahead of U.S. EDT.) A peak gust to 58 mph was clocked on the island of Rota, about 46 miles northeast of Guam.
Downed trees and powerlines were reported in several villages, including the villages of Sinajana, Piti, Mangilao, Dededo, Asan-Maina, Agat and Agana Heights, according to the Stars and Stripes blog. Twenty homes in one subdivision of Yigo lost water service due to a power outage, and power in an area surrounding Guam Memorial Hospital was knocked out, though not to the hospital itself, according to the Pacific News Center.
All tropical storm and typhoon warnings have been dropped for Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan.
The center of Halong will continue to pull away from Guam and Rota Wednesday night into Thursday, local time.
A few lingering tropical storm-force wind gusts are possible in both Guam and Rota Wednesday night, before winds taper off by Thursday morning.
Waves from 10-18 feet Wednesday night will subside to 8-13 feet by Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service in Guam.
(MORE: Expert Analysis)
Halong is expected to intensify further after moving away from Guam later this week, curling northwest, then northward.
For now, it is not clear whether Halong will threaten any additional land interests in the western Pacific next week. Those in southern and southwestern Japan should continue to monitor the progress of Halong.
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