UPDATE — Friday, October 2, 6:50 PM CT: NWS Tiyan's 8:26 AM ChST local statement on Typhoon Choi-wan (26W) keeps the Tropical Storm Warning in effect for Tinian and Saipan through midnight CT tonight — the land warning was extended from its earlier 8:45 PM CT end. The Tropical Storm Warning for Tinian and Saipan Coastal Waters remains in effect through 3:00 AM CT with southwest tropical-storm-force winds to 45 kt and seas 14 to 20 feet. Typhoon Warnings remain for Alamagan, Agrihan and Pagan.

UPDATE — Friday, October 2, 5:50 PM CT: NWS Tiyan's 8:50 AM ChST marine statement keeps the Tropical Storm Warning in effect for Tinian and Saipan Coastal Waters — southwest tropical-storm-force winds to 45 kt gusting to 60 kt, with seas 14 to 20 feet, hazardous enough to capsize or damage vessels. Typhoon Choi-wan (26W) continues to strengthen while turning north-northeast near the islands.

UPDATE — Friday, October 2, 5:30 PM CT: NWS Tiyan's 8:26 AM ChST local statement on Typhoon Choi-wan (26W) brings no new information — Choi-wan keeps moving north-northeast west of Pagan. A Typhoon Warning remains in effect for Alamagan, Agrihan and Pagan in the CNMI, and the Tropical Storm Warning remains for Tinian and Saipan through 8:45 PM CT tonight and for Tinian/Saipan Coastal Waters through 3:15 AM CT. A Flood Watch remains for all of Guam and the Northern Marianas.

UPDATE — Friday, October 2, 7:49 AM CT: Choi-wan (26W) continues to strengthen as it pivots north-northeast near the northern Marianas west of Alamagan; tropical-storm-force winds have already been felt over Saipan since early this morning. Southwest winds to 40 kt gusting to 60 kt with 14–20 foot seas in Tinian and Saipan coastal waters. (NWS Tiyan GU, 10:41 PM ChST.)

**UPDATE — Friday, October 2, 6:21 AM CT:** NWS Tiyan's 9:21 PM ChST statements keep the Tropical Storm Warning in effect for Saipan and Tinian — Tropical Storm Choi-wan (26W) is nearly stationary and drifting west-northwest away from Anatahan. A Typhoon Warning is now in effect for Agrihan and Pagan, and a Typhoon Watch remains in effect for Alamagan. Preparations on Saipan and Tinian should be complete — remain in sturdy shelter until the all-clear is given.

UPDATE — Thursday, October 1, 11:54 PM CT: NWS Tiyan's 2:54 PM ChST Friday statements keep the Tropical Storm Warning in effect for Saipan, Tinian and their coastal waters — Choi-wan (26W) is moving slowly west-northwest and inching closer to Alamagan; tropical-storm-force winds have been felt on Saipan since early Friday morning, with seas of 14 to 20 feet driving hazardous conditions.

UPDATE — Thursday, October 1, 12:34 PM CT: NWS Tiyan's 3:34 AM ChST Friday statement keeps the Tropical Storm Warning in effect for Saipan and Tinian — Tropical Storm Choi-wan (26W) continues moving west south of Alamagan; no new information in this update.

UPDATE — Thursday, October 1, 11:57 AM CT: NWS Tiyan's 2:57 AM ChST Friday statement keeps the Tropical Storm Warning in effect for Saipan and Tinian coastal waters as Tropical Storm Choi-wan (26W) moves west south of Alamagan, with tropical-storm-force winds already felt on Saipan this morning. Southwest winds 25 to 40 knots, gusts to 55 knots, seas 14 to 20 feet — hazardous conditions for vessels; warning in effect until further notice.

UPDATE — Thursday, October 1, 6:22 AM CT: NWS Tiyan's 9:22 PM ChST local statement keeps the Tropical Storm Warning in effect for Saipan and Tinian as Tropical Storm Choi-wan (45 mph) tracks west at 13 mph, roughly 260 miles north-northeast of Guam. The warning also holds for Alamagan, Pagan and Agrihan, with a Typhoon Watch for those northern islands. A Flood Watch remains in effect for Saipan and Tinian; tropical-storm-force winds of 39 to 50 mph may continue through Sunday, with 58-to-65-mph bursts possible early Saturday and typhoon-force gusts possible near closest passage.

UPDATE — Thursday, October 1, 4:59 AM CT: NWS Tiyan's update keeps the Tropical Storm Warning in effect for the Tinian and Saipan coastal waters as Tropical Storm Choi-wan moves westward toward Anatahan and Alamagan. Southwest winds 25 to 35 knots with gusts to 55 knots and seas of 11 to 16 feet are expected; seas could become hazardous by late tonight.

UPDATE — Thursday, October 1, 12:05 AM CT: NWS Tiyan's update keeps the Tropical Storm Warning in effect for the Tinian and Saipan coastal waters as Tropical Storm Choi-wan continues developing westward toward Anatahan and Alamagan. Expect southwest winds 25 to 35 knots with gusts to 55 knots and seas of 11 to 16 feet.

# Tropical Storm Warning for Saipan and Tinian Through Thursday Morning

Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — Newly named Tropical Storm Choi-wan is tracking west-northwest toward the far northern Mariana Islands tonight, and the National Weather Service office in Tiyan, Guam has placed Tinian and Saipan under a Tropical Storm Warning through Thursday morning local time.

## What is happening:

Forecasters named the system Choi-wan this evening. The storm's tropical-storm-force winds are expected to reach Saipan and Tinian within 24 hours, with the strongest winds possible tonight as the center moves toward the islands of Anatahan and Alamagan to the north. A separate Tropical Storm Warning covers the coastal waters around both islands, where southwest winds are running 25 to 35 knots with gusts as high as 55 knots and seas building to 11 to 16 feet. Farther north, Alamagan and Pagan remain under a Tropical Storm Warning plus a Typhoon Watch.

## Local impacts:

On land, expect tropical-storm conditions: damaging winds, heavy downpours, and dangerous surf along exposed coasts. On the water, forecasters warn that the very strong winds will churn up hazardous seas that could capsize or damage vessels and cut visibility — the earlier small-craft advisory was cancelled because conditions have escalated past it. A Flash Flood Watch also remains in effect for the islands as rounds of heavy rain move through.

## What to do:

- Stay inside sturdy shelter and remain there until the all-clear is given.

- Do not go out on the water — seas around Saipan and Tinian are dangerous for small craft and larger vessels alike.

- Secure loose outdoor items before the winds arrive tonight.

- Follow the guidance of local emergency managers and keep monitoring updates from the National Weather Service in Tiyan, Guam.

*Source: National Weather Service, Tiyan Guam, September 30, 2026. Reported by TNW News.*