Upcoming Changes to WFO Guam Zones

Hafa Adai from WFO Guam!

The Guam forecast zones will be changing next year in order to use the correct US Postal Service postal codes for zones outside of Guam. For the CNMI, this is MP, for Republic of Palau, this is PW, for the Federated States of Micronesia, this is FM, and for the Republic of the Marshall Islands, this is MH. Please look below at the tables for your island and the graphical maps that will show you how the zone for your island might be changing. For many users, this will be transparent, but for some it could be crucial information.

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MARIANAS ZONES

WESTERN MICRONESIA ZONES

EASTERN MICRONESIA ZONES

PALAU ZONES

YAP ZONES

CHUUK ZONES

POHNPEI/KOSRAE ZONES

THE MARSHALL ISLANDS ZONES

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Justification

These changes are intended to provide increased flexibility and improved accuracy of forecast, watch, warning, and advisory products in the public and marine weather programs. These changes will also change the names of some islands to their original native names, and use the correct postal codes for zones outside of Guam.

GUZ002-068 current zones will be converted into MPZ001-007 (Northern Marianas), PWZ001-008 (Republic of Palau), FMZ001-038 (Federated States of Micronesia), and MHZ001-010 (Republic of the Marshall Islands) separate zones. These new zones are being divided to establish different zone names for the respective countries.

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The following zones have been removed, because they are no longer populated:

(1) Asuncion and the Maug Islands have been removed from GUZ005.

(2) GUZ024, Sorol, is being removed.

(3) GUZ062, Ujelang, is being removed.

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The following zones are being added, because they are important to tropical cyclone or drought operations and/or have been populated historically:

(1) Sonsorol, PWZ007 and Tobi, PWZ008

(2) Onoun, FMZ025, Fananu, FMZ024 and Losap, FMZ022

(3) Pakin, FMZ014, Sapwuafik (Ngatik), FMZ015, Oroluk, FMZ016,

(4) Nukuoro, FMZ017 and Kapingamarangi, FMZ018

(5) Arno, MHZ001, Utirik, MHZ005, Kwajalein, MHZ008, Ujae, MHZ008 and Enewetak, MHZ010

Table 1: WFO Guam's Affected Public Weather Forecast Zones

Island Name	Current Zone number	New Zone number	Remarks
Guam	GUZ001	GUZ001	No change
Rota	GUZ002	MPZ001	Renumbered
Tinian	GUZ003	MPZ002	Renumbered
Saipan	GUZ004	MPZ003	Renumbered
Anatahan	GUZ005	MPZ004	Renumbered
Sarigan	GUZ005	N/A	Zone removed
Guguan	GUZ005	N/A	Zone removed
Alamagan	GUZ005	MPZ005	Renumbered
Pagan	GUZ005	MPZ006	Renumbered
Agrihan	GUZ005	MPZ007	Renumbered
Asuncion	GUZ005	N/A	Zone removed
Maug	GUZ005	N/A	Zone removed
Farallon de Pajaros	GUZ005	N/A	Zone removed
Arno	N/A	MHZ001	Zone added
Majuro	GUZ061	MHZ002	Renumbered
Wotje	GUZ067	MHZ003	Renumbered
Mili	GUZ068	MHZ004	Renumbered
Utirik	N/A	MHZ005	Zone added
Jaluit	GUZ065	MHZ006	Renumbered
Ailinglaplap	GUZ064	MHZ007	Renumbered
Kwajalein	N/A	MHZ008	Zone added
Ujae	N/A	MHZ009	Zone added
Enewetak	N/A	MHZ010	Zone added
Ujelang	GUZ062	N/A	Zone removed
Kosrae	GUZ051	FMZ001	Renumbered
Pingelap	GUZ043	FMZ011	Renumbered
Mokil	GUZ042	FMZ012	Renumbered
Pohnpei	GUZ041	FMZ013	Renumbered
Pakin	N/A	FMZ014	Zone added
Sapwuafik	N/A	FMZ015	Zone added
Oroluk	N/A	FMZ016	Zone added
Nukuoro	N/A	FMZ017	Zone added
Kapingamarangi	N/A	FMZ018	Zone added
Lukunor	GUZ033	FMZ021	Renumbered
Losap	N/A	FMZ022	Zone added
Chuuk Lagoon	GUZ031	FMZ023	Renumbered
Fananu	N/A	FMZ024	Zone added
Onoun	N/A	FMZ025	Zone added
Polowat	GUZ032	FMZ026	Renumbered
Satawal	GUZ026	FMZ031	Renumbered
Woleai	GUZ025	FMZ032	Renumbered
Faraulep	N/A	FMZ033	Zone added
Eauripik	N/A	FMZ034	Zone added
Fais	N/A	FMZ035	Zone added
Ulithi	GUZ023	FMZ036	Renumbered
Yap	GUZ021	FMZ037	Renumbered
Ngulu	GUZ022	FMZ038	Renumbered
Sorol	GUZ024	N/A	Zone removed
Kayangel	GUZ013	PWZ001	Renumbered
Melekeok	N/A	PWZ002	Zone added
Airai	N/A	PWZ003	Zone added
Koror	GUZ011	PWZ004	Renumbered
Peleliu	GUZ011	PWZ005	Renumbered
Angaur	GUZ011	PWZ006	Renumbered
Sonsorol	N/A	PWZ007	Zone added
Hatohobei	N/A	PWZ008	Zone added

Table 2: WFO Guam's Products Affected by These Changes

AWIPS ID	WMO Heading	Product Name
AFDGUM	FXPQ50 PGUM	Area Forecast Discussion
CFWGUM	WHMY40 PGUM	Coastal Hazard Message
CFWPQ1-2	WHPQ41 PGUM	Coastal Hazard Message
CWFPQ1-2	FZPQ51 PGUM	Coastal Waters Forecast
DGTGUM	AXGM70 PGUM	Drought Information Statement
ESFGUM	FGMY70 PGUM	Hydrologic Outlook
FLSGUM	WGMY80 PGUM	Flood Advisory
FFAGUM	WGMY60 PGUM	Flood Watch
FFWGUM	WGMY50 PGUM	Flash Flood Warning
HLSPQ1-5	WTPQ81 PGUM	Hurricane Local Statement
MWSPQ1-2	FZPQ71 PGUM	Marine Weather Statement
MWWPQ1-2	WHGM71 PGUM	Marine Weather Warning
NOWGUM	FPMY70 PGUM	Short-Term Forecast
NPWGUM	WWMY70 PGUM	Non-Precipitation Watch/Warning/Advisory
PFMGUM	FOMY50 PGUM	Point Forecast Matrix
PFMPQ1-2	FOPQ51 PGUM	Point Forecast Matrix
PNSGUM	NOPQ40 PGUM	Public Information Statement
SFTGUM	FPMY60 PGUM	Tabular State Forecast
SFTPQ1-2	FPPQ61 PGUM	Tabular State Forecast
SPSGUM	WWMY80 PGUM	Special Weather Statement
SPSPQ1-2	WWPQ81 PGUM	Special Weather Statement
SRFGUM	FZPQ50 PGUM	Surf Zone Forecast
SRFPQ1-2	FZPQ51 PGUM	Surf Zone Forecast
TIBGUM	WEGM42 PGUM	Tsunami Information Statement
TSUGUM	WEGM40 PGUM	Tsunami Message
ZFPGUM	FPMY50 PGUM	Zone Forecast
ZFPPQ1-2	FPPQ51 PGUM	Zone Forecast