Tropical Storm Wutip is set to pass the Marianas this weekend.
Island leaders are staying ahead of the rain and preparing for the weather.

Heavy rain is in the forecast while the National Weather Service keeps a close eye on Tropical Storm Wutip. It's expected to pass near the Marianas and Guam sometime this weekend.

Village Mayors already preparing for the rain.

"Any type of preparation, of course, our coverts and our drainages are always a priority to make sure that water flow in case of heavy rain is always going to be a priority so it prevents flooding, flooding whether it be at the roads or at the homes, Dededo Mayor Melissa Savares said.

Flooding is a major issue in southern villages and Savares said they're keeping a close eye if the track changes to impact other villages.

The U.S. Coast Guard is warning residents to take caution near high surf and rip tides that make swimming unsafe.

For residents whose home won't weather the storm, Superintendent Jon Fernandez said the Guam Department of Education is on standby but ready to open up 15 of their schools as shelters.

"I think governor to governor, as well as storm to storm, sometimes based on the prior storm and the predictability of the storm, sometimes there's a tendency to air on the side of caution or be extra cautious to some extent and open all the shelters at once," he said. "So we just want to be balanced in how we do it because it is a deployment of resources. And it is safety at stake."

He said finding the right time to open shelters includes working closely with Homeland Security and the office of Civil Defense.

For the latest on Tropical Storm Wutip, residents are advised to stay up-to-date on KUAM and the NWS website. The biggest advice is to stay prepared.