Heavy weather off Chuuk

HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Pacific Daily News): May 15, 2002 – A tropical disturbance near Chuuk may soon turn into a tropical cyclone.

Formation of a “significant” tropical cyclone is possible by today, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center’s Web site said yesterday.

But the tropical disturbance has not developed enough to predict what it will do, said Michael Ziobro, meteorologist for the National Weather Service.

“It’s still in its early stages of development,” he said, noting that the tropical disturbance had been in the same position for the past three days.

Ziobro said it would take another 24 hours to make a more accurate prediction of what the disturbance might do.

Showers and thunderstorms are occurring in eastern Yap, Chuuk and Pohnpei states, according to the National Weather Service.

The developing tropical disturbance to the south could bring increased showers and thunderstorms here later this week, the NWS Web site said.

The system was moving northwest at 11.5 mph, with maximum sustained winds estimated at 20 to 25 mph.