Tropical Storm — Micronesia, Guam

2023-05-17 to 2023-05-21 · Micronesia, Guam

Event narrative

On May 17th a circulation that had been over the area for a few days was classified as Invest 97W by JTWC. 97W was located to the west-southwest of Chuuk at that time. Scatterometer data showed a west-wind burst south of the circulation with winds up to 30 knots. On the morning of May 18th, 97W was located near 6N147E. At this time strong convection was located to the southeast of the center with cloud-top temperatures down to -83C. These temperatures correspond to cloud tops up

to 56k feet. The circulation continued to organize over the next few days.

Scatterometer satellite imagery shows a well-defined circulation center surrounded by 20 to 25-knot winds by the 20th of May. On the afternoon of May 20th, the circulation was classified as Tropical Depression 02W. The tropical depression was located near 5.6N 149.0E or about 235 miles west-southwest of Chuuk with maximum sustained

winds of 30 mph. 02W continued to intensify and by the morning of the 21st of May it became Tropical Storm Mawar. Mawar was located near 5.9N 149.2E at about 185 miles west-southwest of Chuuk. Winds were up to 40 mph.

On May 21st the center Tropical Storm passed just west of Polowat in Chuuk State. At this time Mawar was intensifying and had winds near the center at 40 mph in the early morning increasing to 60 mph in the afternoon. By the afternoon of May 21st Mawar passed 75 miles of Satawal.

Across Satawal, and Polowat, few reports have been received, but damage was generally light from the low-end to moderate tropical storm Mawar as it passed by. Impacts were largely limited to fleshier vegetation with a number of banana trees downed, as well as some breadfruit trees and coconut palms. While no significant structural damage was reported, the sea wall in Satawal had damage in a few areas, as well as 2 main dwelling houses.

Wider weather episode

Mawar developed into a Super typhoon during the end of May. It crossed parts of Micronesia, Guam, and the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1119907. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.