Fujiwarei Effect Coming into Play in Pacific-NWS Guam

[Cyclone Runner]

Storm watchers also keeping eye on second storm in region
by Zita Taitano, KUAM News
Saturday, August 21, 2004

The National Weather Service held a briefing at the Guam International Airport in preparation for Typhoon Chaba. A Typhoon Warning is now in effect for the territory as the formation makes its way towards the Marianas. And while the typhoon is continuously under close watch by the NWS, meteorologists are also monitoring a tropical storm traveling northwest of the Mariana island chain.

During the briefing earlier in the day with government officials, meteorologist Chip Guard explained that earlier readings showed while Typhoon Chaba was heading further north, the tropical storm, which was moving northwest towards Asia, slowed down, thus causing an adverse affect on the typhoon in the atmosphere. "But at the same time, it's putting pressure toward the south, so without this northward movement. I don't think we're going to see that weakening in the ridge right now and it's going to be difficult for the storm to move north," he explained.

This type of movement, Guard says is termed as a Fujiwarei Effect, and is placing Typhoon Chaba in a very complex condition because of the tropical storm. What this means is that major changes is expected with regards to the current track of Typhoon Chaba and may cause further erratic movement in addition to an increase intensity of the typhoon.

And although Saturday's sunny weather conditions may seem a bit calming for residents, Guard says conditions may change sometime during the evening and through out the day Sunday as the storm draws nearer. He added that residents should take necessary precautions and prepare for the storm. "People should stay tuned to the latest warning that come out. We update the warning four times a day so if you look at one warning, don't expect that the warning is the same for the rest of the life of the storm because it's not. It could change drastically from warning to warning," he advised.

Kevin Vang
APCEDI Coordinator

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