Rip Current — Guam, Guam

2024-01-22 · Guam, Guam

Event narrative

Firefighters were called to a beach near the village of Asan (across from the old Harley-Davidson store) for a report of two swimmers in distress at 1424ChST. A 13-year-old boy was found and pulled onto the boat, and he did not require any medical attention. the 8-year-old was later found and CPR administered as he was transported to Naval Hospital. It was later reported that the 8-year-old boy later passed away at the hospital. This occurred at the tail end of large surf event created by large north swell and a shear line that brought choppy seas due to strong winds, that started January 17th.

Wider weather episode

Large north swell generated by a distant extratropical cyclone, along with elevated wind waves and northeast swell from a descending shear line into the Marianas, created dangerous surf and rip currents along west and north facing reefs of the Marianas from January 17-19, with surf then slowly decreasing through January 22.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1158231. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.