Condition of Readiness 3 for Guam in effect as of 3 p.m., public schools closed Wednesday

The tropical storm warning in place as tropical depression 14W approaches the Marianas has forced Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero to place Guam in Condition of Readiness 3 by 3pm today.

“What that means is when we get home please make sure all flying objects are secured, canopies are down, make sure you gas, have food, supplies, cash and those things we are familiar with when we go into Condition of Readiness 3,” said Leon Guerrero.

The storm is traveling west at 9 mph with an intensity of 30 mph.

The governor also spoke with Guam Department of Education Superintendent recommending to close schools Wednesday.

“He is going to declare schools closed tomorrow,” she said. “We also asked for one shelter up north just to be prepared in case there are people whose homes are not secure that they can go to and we will be announcing where that shelter will be once the superintendent decides.”

She said the storm is expected to hit us by 10pm today.

“By tomorrow morning we will see passages through but we will still be experiencing some winds of concern,” she said. ‘We’ve done this. It’s not a typhoon. It’s a tropical storm.”

A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm force winds of at least 39 mph are expected within 24 hours.

Guam National Weather Service meteorologist Landon Aydlett said the Joint Typhoon Warning Center upgraded the disturbance 95W to a tropical depression at 1 pm.

“It’s going to be passing over Guam or very close to Guam in the middle of the night into early tomorrow morning,” said Aydlett. “The first part is going to be this tropical cyclone. The next part is going to be the monsoon evolving behind this tropical system…this will be a rain event for the islands.”

He adds this will not be a typhoon but to take precautions.