Coastal Flood — Micronesia, Guam

2024-01-21 · Micronesia, Guam

Event narrative

A synoptic observer that sends data to the Weather Service Office in Chuuk, reported coastal flooding on Lukunoch Islands on January 22nd from 0900 ChST to 1500 ChST. Flooding came from the northeast, likely from the same large swell event that affected the Marshall Islands and Wake Island on January 19th to 21st (See coastal flood for Wake Island and Marshall Islands). Salt water flooded into some taro patches on the island, causing the community to dig some drainage ditches to help rid the salt water to help limit crop damage. A local mayor evacuated people from six houses that were severely damaged from the flooding to a village located further south on the island. No injuries were reported. Based on reports from the island, a rough estimate for crop damage was about one thousand USD, with total property damage to the six houses starting around fifty thousand USD. No official damage reports have been received at WFO Guam since the initial report.

Wider weather episode

A distant but powerful extratropical cyclone passing well north of Micronesia, created a long period north swell that traveled through the region. It generated very high surf and led to quick and extensive coastal flooding within the Republic of the Marshall islands and parts of Micronesia. The swell also moved into the southern hemisphere with some impacts being reported across the Samoan Islands.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1159342. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.