Tropical Storm — Northern Marianas, Guam

2012-05-22 to 2012-05-23 · Northern Marianas, Guam

Wider weather episode

Tropical Depression 03W developed about 150 miles south-southeast of Guam the evening of Monday May 21st. Moving northwest, then north-northwest, TD 03W became Tropical Storm Sanvu, and passed about 50 miles southwest of Guam at about 0900 GST Tuesday morning the 22nd, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. Sanvu brought tropical storm force wind gusts and moderate rainfall to Guam and the northern Mariana Islands as it passed, mainly during the morning of the 22nd.

On Guam, the peak gust was 48 mph from the southeast at Andersen AFB at 0955 GST, and on Saipan the peak gust was southeast at 39 mph at 1418 GST. Minimum SLP on Guam was 1004.3 mb at Andersen AFB at 0255 GST the morning of the 23rd, and on Saipan the lowest SLP was 1008.8 mb at 0354 GST the same morning. Rainfall was generally moderate, with 24-hour totals ranging between 1.5 inches and 2 inches on Guam, Rota, and Saipan. An automated station on Tinian reported 4.65 inches in the 48 hours ending at 2200 GST the evening of the 22nd.

The only reported damage was on Guam, where falling tree limbs did an estimated $20,000 in damage to power lines.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 386231. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.