Hurricane and Rip Current in Guam, August 2 to 9, 2015

On the morning of the 29th of July a tropical disturbance was located about 250 miles northwest of Kwajalein. The disturbance moved westward as it increased in intensity. Eventually, on the evening of July 30th it became Tropical Depression 13W when it was 985 miles east of Guam. The depression continued to intensify and by the next morning it became Tropical Storm Soudelor. Late in the afternoon of August 2nd Soudelor become a typhoon when it was 60 miles east-southeast of Saipan. During the day radar imagery indicated that the eye was only 5 miles across with a small eyewall surrounding it. Between 11 pm on the 2nd and 12 am on the 3rd Soudelor passed across Saipan. The eye and associated wind field was very small. It is amazing that despite the small size the typhoon managed to pass across Saipan.

Observations from the Saipan International Airport were lacking during the passage of the typhoon. Just before 11 pm the airport did record a sustained winds of 54 mph with a peak gust of 91 mph. This however did not depict the full fury of the storm as|a wind damage assessment showed that winds of 130 mph with gust to 160 mph|were likely.

Despite the damaging winds no fatalities were reported, but 40 people |were injured. Damage across the island of Saipan was extensive. |At the Mobil fuel tank farm a 20 foot cargo container blown by the wind breached a |120,000 gallon fuel storage tank, causing 11,000 of gallons of gasoline to spill|into a containment area around the tank. Another tank of fuel was damaged, causing|500 gallons of diesel fuel to enter the water at the Port of Saipan.

The typhoon caused three vessels to be blown from their moorings which later ran aground in Tanapag Harbor.

At the Saipan International Airport, two Cessna aircraft parked there were damaged.

Rain from the typhoon flooded the power plant in Saipan. The typhoon force winds|toppled power poles across Saipan. It was estimated that 50 percent of the primary |power distribution system was destroyed. The damage amounted to 150 power poles and 114 transformers. Across Saipan roofs were ripped off from houses and cars were flipped over.

An estimated $20 million in damage were the result of the typhoon. At the Saipan|Zoo, there was $150,000 in damage. It was noted that some stores in Saipan donated their meat to the zoo to feed some of the animals. The meat was given because of the lack of power there was no way to refrigerate what they had, so they felt that at least they could donate it.

Typhoon Soudelor also brought devastation to the natural environment in Saipan.|Over 65 percent of of nesting bird species on the island are affected due to loss of nests. Fruit bats also had nesting areas damaged by the typhoon.

At 10:12 a.m. on the morning of August the 4th Guam Fire Department responded to |a call at Matapang Beach in Tumon Bay. Life guards had pulled a 67 year old man from the water. Fire Department rescuers took the man to the hospital at 10:36 a.m..

Swell from distant Super Typhoon Soudelor was impacting the area. A High Surf Advisory was in effect. Hazardous Surf of up of to 10 feet was predicted. Ritidian Buoy did observe a maximum wave height of 16 feet at 9 seconds around 8:30 that morning. While the event took place within the reef, wave energy can create rip currents within the reef.

On August 8, 2015 Saturday morning, 5 local residents went on a hike to the Ague Cove area in northwest Guam. |During the hike, an 18 year old male went down to the water for a swim, but was caught by a wave and swept away from |the group. While two of the hikers ran up a hill to try and call 911, two others separated in an effort to rescue their friend, who was being pulled away from the cove. One of the two, a 19 year old male, saw a rope tied to a tree and wrapped|it around himself so he could attempt a rescue. He may have either tried to jump or rappel down into the water. However, he was struck by a wave into some coral and lost consciousness. Other hikers in the area rushed to help the 18 year old and were eventually able to call 911. It took about 45 minutes to an hour before first responders made it to the scene. |Guam Fire Department arrived at 1030 AM to rescue the two victims. GFD transported the 18 year old male that was initially in distress to Guam Memorial Hospital at 1230 PM where he was discharged later that evening. The other 19 year old male victim was retrieved by the Sea Combat Squadron (HSC-25) helicopter and transported to the Guam Naval Hospital where he passed away on August 9

At 5:30 p.m. on August the 9th, Guam Fire Department responded to a distressed swimmer report outside the reef in Tumon Bay near the Dusit Thani Hotel. Initially, five swimmers were reported in distress, but four made it to shore safely. A search was initiated for the fifth man. The swimmer was identified as a 20 year old male Marine who was on liberty from a base in Japan. The body was never recovered.