The effects of gusts from passing Tropical Storm Man-yi can be seen as tourists take pictures at the Paseo de Susana Park on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Hagåtña.
HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — Guam was spared from significant rain and winds brought by Tropical Storm Man-yi as it ended up veering south, passing the island between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. Wednesday, about 25 miles south of Malesso’, according to Brandon Aydlett, the science and operations officer at the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office Guam.
Model guidance showed Man-yi shifting north Tuesday, with the storm anticipated to pass between Guam and Rota. But later that day, just before sunset, the storm was east of Tinian and moving toward Tinian, Aydlett said.
“And then after sunset, it started making a little bit of a left turn, turning west-southwest. And then it continued with that left turn, eventually passing south of Guam before making that turn back to the west,” Aydlett added.
In the CNMI, tropical storm conditions were lifted for Saipan and Tinian at 9 a.m., and for Rota at 11 a.m.
The Weather Forecast Office was monitoring threats from the wind and rain accompanying Man-yi. A flood watch was put into effect for Guam, with the notice warning residents to be prepared for 4 to 8 inches of rain.
“That rain threat, which is why we had the flood watch in effect, … was incumbent on the (storm’s) circulation center passing near or just north of Guam. And all those torrential rains on the south side would have come over Guam. However, with it taking the eventual path just south of the island, those heavier showers, they did develop overnight.… It was just about 50 miles to the south of Guam and ultimately missing us,” Aydlett said.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Aydlett said there are some clusters of showers and thunderstorms well to the east of the Marianas, and they are watching to see if those might make it to the islands sometime Thursday. However, there are no tropical cyclones observed to the east, Aydlett added.
He said there was a broader disturbance around Chuuk — a weak circulation — but the Weather Forecast Office wasn’t seeing anything out of model guidance suggesting it would develop into a storm. Aydlett said it looked to be a standard wet season disturbance.
No major issues
Man-yi passed Guam without creating much issue. Acting Gov. Josh Tenorio said Wednesday morning that Guam had been “very fortunate,” and the island seemed to have been spared any destruction by Man-yi.
Department of Public Works Director Vince Arriola said he’s seen no major or significant damage from the storm.
The Guam Power Authority also reported early Wednesday afternoon that, based on initial discussions with Guam Ukudu Power personnel, no damage at the new power plant site in Ukudu was found so far.
The Ukudu power plant will be the next main power plant on Guam, and it suffered major damage from Typhoon Mawar last year, resulting in delays to its commissioning date.
With Man-yi moving away from Guam Wednesday morning, the island was placed under Condition of Readiness 4 by noon. It was placed under COR 1 at midnight.
Classes were canceled Wednesday for Guam Department of Education schools and Catholic schools. These will resume normally Thursday.
