Tropical Storm Choi Won 15-W

In the next 12-24 hours, this could become a typhoon threatening the Marianas. This is from NOAA:

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

TROPICAL STORM CHOI-WAN LOCAL STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TIYAN GU

416 AM CHST MON SEP 14 2009

...TROPICAL STORM CHOI-WAN APPROACHING THE NORTHERN MARIANAS...

.AREAS AFFECTED...

THIS LOCAL STATEMENT PROVIDES IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR PEOPLE IN THE MARIANAS AND SURROUNDING

WATERS OUT TO 45 MILES.

.WATCHES/WARNINGS...

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND A TYPHOON WATCH REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR

TINIAN...SAIPAN AND AGRIHAN.

.STORM INFORMATION...

AT 100 AM CHST...1500Z...TROPICAL STORM CHOI-WAN WAS CENTERED NEAR

LATITUDE 15.8 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE 148.4 DEGREES EAST.

THIS IS ABOUT 275 MILES SOUTHEAST OF AGRIHAN

210 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ALAMAGAN

190 MILES EAST-NORTHEAST OF TINIAN AND SAIPAN

245 MILES NORTHEAST OF ROTA AND

295 MILES NORTHEAST OF GUAM.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE 70 MPH. TROPICAL STORM CHOI-WAN IS

MOVING WEST AT 7 MPH.

.SITUATION OVERVIEW...

TROPICAL STORM CHOI-WAN CONTINUES TO INTENSIFY AS IT APPROACHES

THE NORTHERN MARIANAS. HEAVY RAIN AND HIGH SURF WILL POUND LOCAL

REEFS AND BEACHES. HIGH WINDS WILL BLOW AWAY LOOSE OBJECTS LEFT

OUTDOORS.

.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FOR TINIAN...SAIPAN...AGRIHAN AND ALAMAGAN...NOW IS THE TIME TO

RUSH TO COMPLETION PREPARATIONS FOR THE PROTECTION OF LIFE AND

PROPERTY. SMALL CRAFT REMAIN IN PORT. CLOSELY MONITOR NOAA WEATHER

RADIO OR OTHER LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS FOR OFFICIAL STORM INFORMATION.

LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE CHANGES TO THE FORECAST AS DESCRIBED BY YOUR

LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY

MANAGEMENT.

Most of the schools have announced closure until further notice. There was a call for all "essential government workers" to report to work and secure workplaces. I've often wondered who is essential and who is not. Oh, well. Be safe all and see you soon!

Ti napu.

The Beachcomber