by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - The National Weather Service is monitoring a tropical disturbance which is situated northwest of Chuuk and located about 440 miles southeast of Guam. According to the NWS a tropical cyclone formation alert from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center remains in effect on this disturbance but it has shown no signs of development overnight and the center is difficult to locate on satellite imagery. The NWS add considerable uncertainty exists in the exact path and intensity of this tropical system. We should see however rain and thunderstorms by Friday and through most of the weekend along with the rain expect northeast winds in the range of 25 to 30 mph and combined seas of 12 to 15 feet.

Residents Urged to Stay Storm Ready as Weather Officials Monitor Nearby Tropical Disturbance

The tropical disturbance developing northeast of Chuuk and 440 miles southeast of Guam is being monitored closely by the National Weather Service and Guam Homeland Security officials. The disturbance is currently moving westward and is expected to slow down and stall south of Guam tomorrow and Saturday.

Local residents can expect and should prepare for the following weather forecasts until Sunday, March 2, 2014:

- Northeast winds from 20 – 30 mph during the day

- Northeast winds from 15 – 25 mph after sunset

- Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms

The Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense also wants residents to stay safe and begin initiating the usual safety procedures until the tropical disturbance is no longer a threat. These include:

- Driving Safety: Drive slower than the posted speed limits as puddles can be misleading

- Ocean Safety: current conditions are dangerous; do not go out on boats and stay out of the water

- Property Safety: tie down any loose items around homes, secure anything that may become hazardous debris

Stay STORM READY. Stay UPDATED

For a full list of weather safety guidelines and family preparedness plans, please visit www.ghs.gov or email alyssa.benito@ghs.guam.gov for more information. You can also connect with us via social media by following the Guam Office of Homeland Security Facebook Page at www.facebook .com/guamhomeland. Residents can also go to http://www.prh.noaa.gov/pr/guam/ for more weather updates.

Officials to residents: stay informed of all important weather updates

All residents of Guam and the Mariana Islands are encouraged to stay tuned into government, weather and media reports to ensure they are informed of the latest developments regarding the tropical disturbance.

Though meteorologists are monitoring the development closely, they caution residents, businesses and visitor industry leaders about making weather predictions with any certainty. "The weather changes all the time. Our predictions, especially in the early stages of a disturbance's development can change at a moment's notice. Our most important strategy at this time is to watch closely, keep people updated and as always, stay prepared," said meteorologist Derek Williams.