Mark Rabago
RNZ Pacific CNMI correspondent
Tropical Storm
Choi-Wan has forced schools, Northern Marianas College, and
government offices to close in the Northern Mariana Islands,
while strong winds and heavy rain have caused several power
outages on Saipan, including one that abruptly ended a
gubernatorial debate.
The storm is bringing another
round of severe weather to a territory still recovering from
super typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi earlier this year.
The
National Weather Service placed Saipan, Tinian, Alamagan,
Pagan, and Agrihan under tropical storm warnings, while
typhoon watches were issued for Alamagan, Pagan and
Agrihan.
Choi-Wan was expected to bring tropical
storm-force conditions to Saipan and Tinian, with sustained
winds of 35 to 45 mph and gusts of up to 60
mph.
Choi-Wan comes less than six months after Super
Typhoon Sinlaku devastated parts of the territory in April
and Super Typhoon Bavi struck Rota in July.
The Public
School System placed schools on Saipan and Tinian on
half-day schedules Thursday before closing them Friday.
Koblerville Elementary School was closed both days, while
PSS athletic activities were also cancelled.
Schools
on Rota remained on their regular schedules.
Northern
Marianas College also cancelled classes on Saipan and Tinian
beginning at noon Thursday and for all of Friday. College
offices on both islands were closed, while NMC’s Rota campus
remained open.
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The approaching storm also prompted the
CNMI government to release employees early Thursday and
close offices Friday, except for essential
operations.
The Commonwealth Judiciary closed all its
facilities Friday, while the US District Court for the
Northern Mariana Islands closed Thursday afternoon until
further notice.
The weather has also added to Saipan’s
persistent power problems.
Several outages were
reported as conditions deteriorated Thursday, including one
shortly after 8pm that plunged the Gilbert C Ada Gymnasium
into darkness during the Saipan Chamber of Commerce
gubernatorial debate.
The outage forced the Chamber to
postpone the second half of the debate.
It came with a
dose of irony-the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. and Saipan’s
power problems had been the final topic discussed by the
three gubernatorial candidates before the scheduled
intermission.
Chamber president Dr Joshua Wise said
the organisation plans to confer with the candidates and
continue the remaining portion of the debate online at a
later date.
The National Weather Service has warned
that Choi-Wan is only part of a multi-day period of
hazardous weather, with a developing monsoon surge expected
to bring additional strong winds and heavy rain across the
Marianas.
Forecasters said Choi-Wan was expected to
strengthen as it moved through the Northern Marianas, with
rapid intensification possible as the system turns
north.
Residents have been advised to secure loose
objects and prepare for deteriorating winds, seas and
surf.
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