Special Weather Statement for Pohnpei Coastal Waters; Kosrae Coastal Waters

Official alert brief

Invest 95W was upgraded to Tropical Depression 09W by JTWC earlier this afternoon, about 245 miles north of Kosrae and 345 miles east- northeast of Pohnpei, near 8.9N 162.9E. Tropical Depression 09W had max sustained winds of 30 mph and was moving west at 12 mph. The current forecast track takes the center of TD 09W to the north of Pohnpei and Kosrae as it heads towards the Marianas and continues to strengthen. While this track supports tropical storm or greater conditions passing well north of Pohnpei and Kosrae, the main concern will be the potential for surging west winds and elevated westerly swell through Friday for Kosrae and into the weekend for Pohnpei. This will lead to increasing, potentially hazardous surf along west-facing reefs not usually exposed during typical trade wind conditions. Additionally, rain bands within the outer south periphery of TD 09W could still bring locally heavy showers over the next few days, with model ensemble guidance indicating a possibility for rainfall amounts between 1 to 2 inches through the beginning of the weekend. For more information please refer to bulletins from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center under WMO header WTPN31 PGTW and from the National Weather Service under WMO header WTPQ31 PGUM.