Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Tiyan, Guam
Issued by NWS Tiyan, Guam
568 FXPQ50 PGUM 241904 AFDGUM Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tiyan GU 504 AM ChST Tue Nov 25 2025 .Marianas Update... No change was made to the forecast overnight. A wetter period is still expected to begin this weekend as a broad surface trough makes its way across the region. A high rip current risk statement remains valid for east facing reefs of the Marianas until late Wednesday night. && .Eastern Micronesia Update... Increased the PoPs in today`s forecast for Pohnpei, Kosrae and Majuro as the pulse in showers and thunderstorms enhanced by a formation of an ITCZ-like fragment and the upper-level trough overhead, may linger through this afternoon. As another round of elevated northerly and northeasterly swells make their way across the region, hazardous surf remains to be expected along north facing reefs of Pohnpei through this afternoon, potentially longer if conditions warrant. && .Western Micronesia Update... Due to localized atmospheric instability, introduced possibility for locally heavy rainfall at Palau for today. The aforementioned ITCZ- like fragment that has begun to form in eastern Micronesia, is expected to bring a brief uptick in showers to Chuuk this afternoon as well. Yap, on the other hand, is likely to see calmer weather conditions the next few days as gentle, diffusive southeasterlies prevail. Otherwise, the forecast remains in good shape. && .Prev discussion... /issued 527 PM ChST Mon Nov 24 2025/ Marianas Synopsis... Satellite and radar this afternoon reveal just a few showers drifting through southern Guam coastal waters, with partly cloudy skies and little variation in the upstream environment. Buoys and altimetry data show combined seas around 7 to 9 feet. Discussion... The dry trade-wind regime will continue into midweek. Showers will see a slight increase through the latter half of the week, becoming low-end scattered (30 percent chance) on Wednesday through Thanksgiving Day as a broad, weak trough crosses the region along with a small influx in moisture. Additionally, the upper-level pattern becomes marginally more supportive during this timeframe as an upper-level trough shifts just south to southeast of the Marianas, and the upper-level easterlies strengthen, increasing divergence aloft. Overall, however, it will remain a fairly quiet pattern, disrupted late in the weekend as a more robust trough crosses the Marianas, followed by a return to drier weather early next week. Marine... Moderate to fresh trade winds will prevail across the region tonight, gradually diminishing thereafter, becoming gentle to moderate through the latter half of the week. Combined seas of 7 to 9 feet will gradually decrease by 1 to 2 feet toward the end of the week, as the elevated trade swell and wind waves continue to become more relaxed. Although sea conditions remain below levels hazardous to small craft, seas will remain choppy for the next few days, especially over eastern coastal waters. The elevated trade swell will maintain a high rip of risk currents along east facing reefs of the Marianas through at least Wednesday night, decreasing in the latter half of the week. A moderate rip current risk continues for north facing reefs through the next few days and south facing reefs through tonight, as the trade swell and island wrap-around effects gradually decrease this week. Eastern Micronesia... The pattern across eastern Micronesia remains drier than expected. Low-end scattered showers and a couple thunderstorms are found over Kosrae and east of Pohnpei, with isolated showers seen over Pohnpei and Majuro. Pohnpei shows seas between 8 and 9 feet, while altimetry shows seas between 8 and 9.5 feet. Kosrae buoy shows seas near 5 feet. The Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) has retreated east of the Date Line this afternoon. This has resulted in showers becoming isolated over Majuro. Farther west, a weak trade-wind trough will maintain scattered showers with maybe a thunderstorm or two over Kosrae through tonight and will approach Pohnpei through the evening. The convection with this trough will be brief, with showers becoming isolated Tuesday morning at both Pohnpei and Kosrae. Latest model guidance continues to show the ITCZ redeveloping across the region beginning Tuesday. However, this has not been occurring as the models predict. Therefore, decided to maintain scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms at Majuro for Tuesday, but due to the uncertainty of the ITCZ development, lowered POPs (Probability of Precipitation) to low-end scattered, around 30%, with isolated thunderstorms. Maintained this forecast into the weekend, with a brief period of isolated showers Friday. For Pohnpei and Kosrae, brought in low-end scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms midweek, remaining around 30% into the weekend. As with Majuro, there will likely be a brief period of isolated showers Friday. For the marine forecast, there was one major change. For Pohnpei, the latest buoy observations show seas between 8 and 9 feet, with altimetry showing seas of 8 to 9.5 feet. This is a combination of a building northeast trade swell produced by a trade-wind surge to the northeast combined with a small, but long-period, north swell and northeast wind waves. This combination is expected to produce hazardous surf conditions along north facing reefs of Pohnpei through Tuesday afternoon. The northeast swell is expected to subside Tuesday as the north swell dissipates, allowing the surf to fall below hazardous levels by mid afternoon Tuesday. Otherwise, the marine forecast remains relatively unchanged. Western Micronesia... A Near-Equatorial Trough (NET) extends east-southeastward from Invest 92W, near the Philippines, and passes south of Palau coastal waters and stretches across southern Yap and Chuuk states. An area of convergence trailing Invest 92W is seen near Yap and Palau which will maintain scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms through tonight for Yap and through Tuesday for Palau. Then, showers are expected to decrease to isolated for much of the week with a slight uptick in showers for Yap Wednesday night as a minor trade-wind trough passes through. Farther east, relatively quiet weather is expected at Chuuk over the next few days with only patchy, trade- wind showers expected. Then, an ITCZ fragment begins to extend into Chuuk State, bringing a more unsettled weather pattern in the latter half of the week. Altimetry data indicates seas are 5 to 7 feet around Palau and 6 to 9 feet near Yap and Chuuk. Moderate winds are expected tonight for Yap and Chuuk, decreasing to light to moderate for the rest of the week. At Palau, slightly weaker winds are expected due to being closer to the NET axis. Light to gentle winds are expected for the next several days, briefly becoming gentle to moderate Wednesday night. Surf along north-facing reefs of Chuuk may still be a bit elevated tonight until primary northeast trade swell and long-period north swell gradually diminishes over the next few days. This decrease in wind waves will also cause combined seas to decrease to 4 to 6 feet in the latter half of the week. && .GUM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GU...High Rip Current Risk through late Wednesday night for GUZ001. MP...High Rip Current Risk through late Wednesday night for MPZ001>003. Marianas Waters...None. && $$ Marianas/East and West Micronesia Update: Montvila Marianas: DeCou East Micronesia: Kleeschulte West Micronesia: Cruz