HAGATNA, Guam — Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands were preparing for the arrival of a tropical storm on Saturday but forecasters cancelled a typhoon watch for the area.
HAGATNA, Guam — Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands were preparing for the arrival of a tropical storm on Saturday but forecasters cancelled a typhoon watch for the area.
Tropical Storm Bavi was 265 miles east of Guam and 220 miles east-southeast of Saipan, The National Weather Service said. Tropical storm-force winds of 39 mph or greater are expected from late Saturday through today.
But the weather service cancelled a typhoon watch issued Friday, saying Bavi had weakened slightly.
Guam was preparing buses to take residents lacking transportation to shelters to prepare for the storm, the Pacific Daily News reported.
Guam Memorial Hospital was to begin accepting women at least 36 weeks pregnant and those with sensitive pregnancies.
United Airlines cancelled all afternoon flights from Guam due to the tropical storm. A flight to Tokyo was to be the last to depart.
Cape Air/United Express cancelled flights scheduled to arrive and depart from Guam on Saturday and Sunday morning.
The governor urged residents to clear their property, raise shutters and make other storm preparations.
Residents were asked to stay out of the ocean, as a small craft advisory was in effect. Inexperienced mariners are instructed to avoid travel by boat in these conditions.