Powerful Lane continues slow march up toward Hawaiian island chain
Hawaii News Now – KGMB and KHNL
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) –
Hurricane Lane continues its slow march toward the island chain as a dangerous Category 3 storm, and forecasters warn the cyclone is expected to remain a hurricane as it moves over or comes “dangerously close” to portions of the state through Friday.
At 2 a.m. Friday, Oahu and Maui remained under a hurricane warning, while Kauai was under a hurricane watch.
The hurricane warning for the Big Island has been dropped, and the island is now under a tropical storm warning.
On Friday morning, Hurricane Lane was situated about 160 miles southwest of Honolulu.
While Lane has lost some of its steam, it’s still packing a punch — with maximum sustained winds near 120 mph with higher gusts.
Lane is churning toward the north at 5 mph, and isn’t expected to turn to the west until Saturday.
In the meantime, the monster storm is expected to bring torrential rains to island communities.
That was exactly what the Big Island saw through much of the day.
Heavy rains that started late Wednesday on the island triggered widespread flooding and evacuations, and closed several main thoroughfares.
WTPA32 PHFO 241146
TCPCP2
BULLETIN
Hurricane Lane Intermediate Advisory Number 39A
NWS Central Pacific Hurricane Center Honolulu HI EP142018
200 AM HST Fri Aug 24 2018
…DANGEROUS HURRICANE LANE MOVING NORTH TOWARD THE MAIN
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS…
…CATASTROPHIC FLOODING OCCURRING ON THE BIG ISLAND OF
HAWAII…
SUMMARY OF 200 AM HST…1200 UTC…INFORMATION
———————————————-
LOCATION…18.4N 158.0W
ABOUT 160 MI…255 KM SW OF KAILUA-KONA HAWAII
ABOUT 200 MI…320 KM S OF HONOLULU HAWAII
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…120 MPH…195 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…N OR 360 DEGREES AT 5 MPH…8 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…956 MB…28.23 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
——————–
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
None.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for…
* Oahu
* Maui County…including the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai and
Kahoolawe
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
* Hawaii County
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…
* Kauai County…including the islands of Kauai and Niihau
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected
somewhere within the warning area. Preparations to protect life and
property should be rushed to completion.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area.
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible
within the watch area.
Interests in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands should monitor
the progress of Hurricane Lane.
For storm information specific to your area, please monitor
products issued by the National Weather Service office in
Honolulu Hawaii.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
———————-
At 200 AM HST (1200 UTC), the center of Hurricane Lane was located
near latitude 18.4 North, longitude 158.0 West. Lane is moving
toward the north near 5 mph (8 km/h), and this general motion is
expected to continue today. A turn toward the west is anticipated
Saturday, with an increase in forward speed. On the latest forecast
track, the center of Lane will move over, or dangerously close to
portions of the main Hawaiian islands later today and tonight.
Maximum sustained winds are near 120 mph (195 km/h) with higher
gusts. Lane remains a powerful category 3 hurricane on the
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some weakening is forecast
from later today and tonight through late Saturday, but Lane is
expected to remain a dangerous hurricane as it approaches the
islands.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from
the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125
miles (205 km).
The estimated minimum central pressure is 956 mb (28.23 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
———————-
WIND: Tropical storm conditions are already occurring on the Big
Island, Maui County and Oahu. These conditions will likely persist
through this morning. Hurricane conditions are expected over some
areas of Maui County and Oahu starting later today or tonight.
Tropical storm or hurricane conditions are possible on Kauai
starting tonight or Saturday.
RAINFALL: Rain bands will continue to overspread the Hawaiian
Islands well ahead of Lane. Excessive rainfall associated with this
slow moving hurricane will continue to impact the Hawaiian Islands
into the weekend, leading to catastrophic and life-threatening flash
flooding and landslides. Lane is expected to produce total rain
accumulations of 10 to 20 inches, with localized amounts of 30 to 40
inches possible over portions of the Hawaiian Islands. Over two feet
of rain has already fallen at a few locations on the windward side
of the Big Islands.
SURF: Very large swells generated by the slow moving hurricane will
severely impact the Hawaiian Islands into this weekend. These swells
will produce life-threatening and damaging surf along exposed
shorelines. In addition, a prolonged period of extreme surf will
also likely lead to significant coastal erosion.
STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and large
breaking waves will raise water levels by as much as 2 to 4 feet
above normal tide levels along south and west facing shores near
the center of Lane. The surge will be accompanied by large and
destructive waves.
NEXT ADVISORY
————-
Next complete advisory at 500 AM HST.
$$
Forecaster Houston
www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc/tcpages/archive/2018/TCPCP2.EP142018.39A.201808241146
Hurricane Lane lashes Hawaii with rain, winds, mudslides…
Price gouging probes as shoppers clear shelves…
