Flood — Saipan, Guam

2024-09-11 · near San Jose, Saipan, Guam

Event narrative

At Saipan, there were problems with runoff due to heavy showers as Tropical Storm Bebinca passed near Guam, resulting in considerable erosion of gravel roads. Much of the highway/street infrastructure along western Saipan is under construction, with exposed gravel and dirt in many areas from San Antonio northward to Garapan. Saipan International Airport recorded a 24 hour rainfall of 1.49 inches (2200ChST September 10th to 2200ChST September 11th).

Wider weather episode

TS Bebinca originated in the Federated States of Micronesia near Pohnpei and Kosrae as a surface trough. Bebinca gradually consolidated into a closed low-level circulation as it moved WNW past Pohnpei and Chuuk as was monitored as Invest 95W. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued its first warning on TD 14W as it sat about 200 miles SE of Guam on 10 Sep. It was briefly elevated to a 40 mph TS as it passed to the west of southern Guam early morning on the 11th. Rainfall was the more notable hazard with Guam seeing the bulk of rainfall. Heavy rains were less prevalent across the CNMI, but Saipan did see some erosion and runoff due to all the loose soil and gravel from large stretches of road work. Little wind damage was reported beyond some downed limbs and fleshier vegetations such as banana and papaya trees.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (15.1652, 145.7080)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1219150. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.