Coastal Flood — Micronesia, Guam

2024-01-21 · Micronesia, Guam

Event narrative

From Kosrae State, several videos were shared on social media on January 21st, showing coastal flooding, 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). Inundation occurred mainly on the northern shores of Kosrae, pushing debris over roads and into yards and homes. Info forwarded by the Micronesia Red Cross Kosrae chapter (part of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies), reported that flooding/waves damaged the main water line and people of Walung were out of water. Also, most people near the shore were displaced and took temporary shelter at the Walung Elementary School. As of the end of March 2024, no injuries were reported from this event. Some coastal flooding was also reported on Lukunoch Island, in Chuuk State (see the other Micronesia coastal flood event), and some minor coastal flooding even at Kapingamarangi in southern Pohnpei State, but very few impacts were reported.

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 1159370. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.