Hurricane Lane is now a Category 3 Hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph. As of 11 p.m. HST, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said the storm was about 165 miles southwest of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii and 215 miles south of Honolulu, moving north at a speed of approximately 6 mph. A slow northward motion is expected to continue through today.
A turn toward the west is expected Saturday with an increase in forward speed. According to the latest predictions, the center of the storm will move over or close to portions of the main Hawaiian islands later today through tomorrow.
Tropical storm conditions are already happening on the Big Island, Maui County and Oahu. This is expected to persist through the early morning hours tomorrow and hurricane conditions are expected over parts of Maui County and Oahu starting today and continuing through tonight.
So far, outer rain bands are already affecting all the main Hawaiian Islands with widespread heavy rainfall and flash flooding ongoing over portions of the Big Island. The CPHC said Lane is expected to produce accumulation totals of 10 to 20 inches, with localized amounts of 30 to 40 inches possible in some areas. More than two feet of rain has already fallen on sections of the windward side of the Big Island.
On the ocean, swells generated and rip currents continue to present dangers to surfers and swimmers. Surf is expected to increase throughout today with heights reaching 10 to 15 feet on southwest facing shores and 6 to 10 feet on east facing shores. Surf heights for Maui County, Oahu and Kauai County could reach 25 feet by this afternoon.
The combination of storm surge and breaking waves is expected to result in significant beach erosion and overwash onto coastal roadways Saturday, especially around high tide. Water levels are expected to range from 2 to 4 feet above normal along south and west facing shores near the center of the storm.
