Tropical Storm — Northern Marianas, Guam

2004-09-05 to 2004-09-06 · Northern Marianas, Guam

Wider weather episode

TROPICAL STORM SARIKATropical Depression 23W developed east of the Mariana Islands in the early morning hours of September 5th, and was situated about 330 miles east-northeast of Saipan and 330 miles east-southeast of Pagan Island at 0400 SST with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. Racing west-northwest at 25 mph, Tropical Storm Sarika passed between Pagan and Agrihan that evening between 2100 and 2300 SST with maximum winds of 70 mph, only 5 days after Typhoon Songda dealt a severe blow to those same islands. But by 1000 SST the morning of the 6th, Sarika was already over 200 miles west-northwest of Agrihan and moving quickly away. Pagan Island: Tropical Storm Sarika passed 25 miles north-northeast of Pagan at around 2100 SST on September 5th. The automated station on Pagan recorded a maximum sustained wind of 35 mph from the west at 2100 SST, and a peak gust of 58 mph from the west-southwest an hour later at 2200 SST. The lowest sea-level pressure of 1000.4 mb occurred at 2100 SST. In the 12 hours ending at 0300 SST on the 6th, Pagan recorded 3.92 inches of rain. Agrihan: Sarika passed just 15 miles south-southwest of Agrihan at 2230 SST on September 5th. No wind measurements are available, but island residents estimated winds at 60 to 80 mph. Alamagan: Sarika passed about 60 miles north-northeast of Alamagan around 2030 SST on the 5th. No wind estimates are available, but it is unlikely that sustained winds reached tropical storm force. STORM EFFECTS AND DAMAGEAlamagan/Pagan/Agrihan: No deaths or injuries were reported on any of the islands. Housing and crops on the islands had already been severely damaged or destroyed less than a week earlier by Typhoon Songda. As a result, little additional damage was left to be done during Sarika's quick passage.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5432267. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.