Hurricane Lane, the first major storm of the 2018 season, is a significant threat to the Hawaiian Islands. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued warnings for virtually all of Hawaii.
As of 11 p.m. Hawaiian time yesterday, the storm was about 235 miles southwest of Kailua-Kona and about 350 miles south-southeast of Honolulu. Lane was moving north at 7 mph and the motion was expected to continue with a turn to the north. “The latest forecast track from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center brings the center of Lane dangerously close to the Hawaiian Islands during the Thursday through Saturday time frame,” NOAA said in a statement.
NOAA said the onset of damaging tropical-storm force winds on the Big Island could occur by early morning today, with hurricane-force gusts expected in some areas this afternoon and evening. In Maui County, tropical storm-force winds could begin late today with hurricane strength gusts probable. On Oahu, the strong winds are expected tonight and into Friday.
Outer rain bands are already producing flash-flooding on the Big Island. Excessive rainfall is likely and could create mudslides. NOAA says that up to 30 inches of rain is possible.
Large surf is already occurring along Southeast facing shores of the Big Island and is expected to increase today along its southwest facing shores. Big swells are also expected on the southeast-facing shores from Maui County to Kauai County.
