Here’s what the weather service wants Hawaii residents to know:ġ. A watch means hurricane conditions are possible within the next 48 hours. A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are imminent and preparations should be rushed to completion.
Here is the current forecast track, from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. “Now is the time to complete all preparations to protect life and property,” the Weather Service warns. Tropical storm- and hurricane-force winds may reach the Big Island (the largest and easternmost island) by Thursday morning, local time, followed by feet of rain, flooding, storm surge, and, possibly, landslides. “Regardless of the exact track of the storm center, life threatening impacts are likely over some areas as this strong hurricane makes its closest approach.” “The center of Lane will track dangerously close to the islands Thursday through Saturday,” the National Weather Service’s Honolulu office reports. In any case: It’s a potentially scary situation for the islands’ 1.4 million inhabitants, given the size of the storm and the impact it could have. Meanwhile, the path Lane is taking is slowing down, meaning the storm may linger over the islands, drenching them with rain. It’s expected to weaken over the next two days, but will remain a dangerous situation, the National Weather Service warns. It’s unclear if Hurricane Lane - which is currently howling with 130 mph winds - will just graze the islands as it approaches on Thursday or if it will make landfall.
But due to high-pressure weather patterns over the central Pacific, and a lot of deep, cool water around the islands, tropical storms usually steer clear. Hawaii is no stranger to natural hazards like volcanic eruptions (remember Kilauea?). Some areas on the Big Island have already seen a foot of rain from the outer bands of the storm. The state of Hawaii is facing a rare threat: A major hurricane is moving toward it, with hurricane watches and warnings in effect for most of the islands.