Guam and the Northern Marianas were placed under a typhoon watch at 2 p.m. Thursday, meaning typhoon conditions – with winds of 74 mph or greater – are expected within 48 hours.
As of 1 p.m. Thursday, Tropical Depression 29W was located at 10.8 north latitude and 158.9 east longitude, or about 970 miles east of Guam and 935 miles east-southeast of Saipan.
It is expected to pass between Guam and Rota as a possible typhoon late Saturday night and into Sunday.
Maximum sustained winds were 35 mph, and the system was moving to the west-northwest at 13 mph.
It is expected to make a slight turn to the west with a slight increase in forward speed over the next couple of days.
The system is expected to maintain its intensity overnight, possibly becoming a tropical storm Saturday and a typhoon Sunday.
Residents of Guam and the Northern Marianas are being advised to prepare for a Category 2 typhoon.
