THE WEATHER BEAT · OCT 15

Typhoon Watch for Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan as Tropical Depression Champi heads toward the Marianas

A Typhoon Watch covers Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan as Tropical Depression Champi sits 890 miles east; damaging winds are likely Saturday night.

By the Weather Rock October 15, 2026, 8:35 a.m. · 5 min read

Guam, Tumon Bay and Two Lovers Point — A sailboat passes Two Lovers Point in Tumon Bay, Guam, photographed by the US Air Force on 8 April 1985. Photo: CMSGT Don Sutherland, USAF, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.

Key points

As of 8:56 p.m. ChST Thursday, the Weather Service in Tiyan has a Typhoon Watch up for Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan. Tropical Depression Champi (29W) was about 890 miles east of Guam, with winds of 35 mph.
Guam is now in Condition of Readiness 3. The Weather Service says damaging winds are likely across Guam and the Northern Marianas late Saturday night and Sunday, with the strongest winds most likely toward the southernmost islands.
A separate Hydrologic Outlook from Tuesday forecast 5 to 8 inches of rain between Saturday and Monday, with local amounts up to 12 inches. It named the disturbance it followed as Invest 96W.

Yesterday, and this evening in the Marianas

The western Pacific has a new system pointed at American islands. At 7 p.m. ChST Thursday, Tropical Depression Champi, numbered 29W, was about 890 miles east of Guam. It was moving west-northwest at 10 mph with winds of 35 mph. That is a small storm today, and the Weather Service office in Tiyan is treating it as a typhoon by the weekend.

The office's 8:56 p.m. statement carries the Typhoon Watch for Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan. It also says Guam has moved to Condition of Readiness 3, which the statement defines as damaging winds possible within 48 hours. It expects the depression to turn toward the west on Friday. It says damaging winds are likely late Saturday night and Sunday, and that the strongest winds appear to favor the southernmost islands. The statement quotes the latest Joint Typhoon Warning Center forecast as roughly 85 knots of sustained wind for islands near the center. It also asks readers not to fix on the exact forecast track.

The coastal waters carry their own Typhoon Watch, issued at 2:45 p.m. ChST, for Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan waters through at least Sunday night. It expects the depression to start strengthening Friday and to move through the region "as at least a Category 1 typhoon, but more likely stronger." Mariners are told to remain in port or secure their vessels.

Item	Value (NWS Tiyan, 7 p.m. ChST Thu 15 Oct)
System	Tropical Depression Champi (29W)
Position	11.0N, 157.8E
Distance	about 890 miles east of Guam
Movement	west-northwest, 285 degrees, 10 mph
Intensity	35 mph
Forecast turn	toward the west Friday
Damaging winds likely	late Saturday night and Sunday
JTWC forecast as quoted by NWS	sustained winds of roughly 85 knots near the center
Guam readiness	Condition of Readiness 3

Source: NWS Tiyan GU Typhoon Watch local statement, 8:56 p.m. ChST 15 Oct 2026, and the coastal waters Typhoon Watch, 2:45 p.m. ChST 15 Oct 2026.

Today, officially: rain

On Tuesday at 5:31 p.m. ChST, the Tiyan office issued a Hydrologic Outlook for Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan. It forecast 5 to 8 inches of rain between Saturday and Monday, with localized amounts up to 12 inches possible. It warned that steady showers could soak the soil enough to raise the chance of mudslides. It said flood watches, advisories and flash flood warnings could follow this weekend. That outlook names the disturbance it was following as Invest 96W, about 300 miles north of Kosrae. It does not use the number 29W, so this brief reports it as its own product.

The Weather Service's own advice in the statement is plain. Stay calm and keep informed, and follow any evacuation order. Anyone in a metal-roof or container home, a surge zone, or a flood-prone spot should plan to ride out the storm in a shelter or in a sturdy home outside the evacuation zones. Federal preparedness guidance is at ready.gov.

Product	Issued (ChST)	Covers	Key line
Typhoon Watch, local statement	8:56 p.m. Thu 15 Oct	Guam, Rota, Tinian, Saipan	damaging winds likely late Sat night and Sun
Typhoon Watch, coastal waters	2:45 p.m. Thu 15 Oct	Guam, Rota, Tinian, Saipan coastal waters	typhoon conditions possible within 48 hours
Hydrologic Outlook	5:31 p.m. Tue 13 Oct	Guam, Rota, Tinian, Saipan	5 to 8 in, locally up to 12 in, Sat to Mon

Source: NWS Tiyan GU products via api.weather.gov, fetched 12:35Z 15 Oct 2026.

This is a morning summary, not emergency information. For live warnings see weather.gov and your local officials. NWS Guam: https://www.weather.gov/gum/

The rock's live forecast for the places in this story