(Office of the Governor) — At 10 p.m. Thursday, the center of Tropical Storm 20w was located near latitude 13.9 degrees north and longitude 143.4 degrees east.
20w was moving west-northwest at 16 mph. It was expected to maintain this general course with a slight decrease in forward speed through Saturday.
Maximum sustained winds remain at 40 mph. 20w was forecast to intensify through Sunday, possibly becoming a typhoon by Friday night.
Tropical storm force winds extended outward from the center up to 50 miles.
Because of the anticipated threat of Tropical Storm 20W, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres issued the following conditions as of 11 p.m. Thursday:
Tropical Storm Condition I was maintained for Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
Tropical Storm Condition I means that damaging winds of 39 to 74 mph were expected .
All government offices will remain closed Friday, Sept. 24, 2021.
For their part, the Public School System and Northern Marianas College canceled their classes and closed offices at 12 noon for the rest of Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, and through Friday, Sept. 24, 2021.
Shelters activated
Governor Torres, the CNMI Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the Governor’s Covid-19 Task Force, and the Public School System activated the following locations as shelters on Saipan and Tinian effective 4 p.m. Thursday:
• Marianas High School
• Kagman High School
• Tinian Elementary School
There were no shelters in place for Rota; however, emergency managers on the island were monitoring the situation with shelters on standby.
Residents on Saipan and Tinian in tents were advised to go to the closest shelter to them for care, support, and relief during the rainy conditions.
The Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority was activated to provide transportation to the shelters throughout the day. Residents can call 664-2690 for transportation to designated shelters.
In compliance with current CNMI Covid-19 protocols and to ensure the safety and health of all residents seeking shelter, the Governor’s Covid-19 Task Force and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation will be conducting temperature checks and Covid-19 vaccination verifications prior to residents entering shelters. Vaccinated individuals seeking shelter must bring their Covid-19 vaccination cards (CDC vaccine card) for vaccination verification.
For more information, visit the following:
CNMI EOC State Warning Point Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cnmieocswp/
CNMI Office of the Governor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GovernorCNMI
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ralphdlg.torres/
NWS Website: https://www.weather.gov/gum/
NWS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NWSGuam/
Due to the tropical storm, poor visibility was a concern for motorists on Middle Road in Puerto Rico on Thursday.
