Another storm on the way

SAIPAN – A new tropical storm could pass through the Northern Mariana Islands next week, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecast models show that the system could pass near Pagan next Tuesday or Wednesday, but it’s too early for any other details, the Weather Service said.

“With a week away from the circulation affecting the Marianas, it is still too early to settle on any details,” the Weather Service stated in its Area Forecast Discussion. “Although the models do show that it may attain tropical storm strength as it passes through the Northern Marianas.”

A tropical storm has maximum sustained winds of between 64 and 120 kilometres per hour.

Pagan is about 500km north of Guam, or about 260km north of Saipan, which was hit by Typhoon Soudelor earlier this month.

As of Tuesday morning the circulation was near the Kwajalein Atoll of the Marshall Islands.

As the system passes, it is expected to “drag a monsoon tail across the area,” which could bring scattered showers and thunderstorms by mid-week next week, according to the Weather Service.