Late Friday the Hurricane Center announced the formation of Tropical Storm Madeline, also in the Pacific – a storm that could become a hurricane and strike Hawaii.
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Lester’s hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (40 km) from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles (170 km).
Forecasters are watching a tropical storm as it cuts an uncertain path toward Hawaii, potentially coinciding with a visit by President Barack Obama.
Lester was packing maximum sustained winds of 85 miles per hour, but there are no coastal watches or warnings because it is moving west into the Pacific at a speed of 12 miles per hour.
Latest indications suggest that Madeline will continue its westward path before taking a slight jog to the south as it approaches the Big Island on Wednesday, according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Ed Vallee. The storm is now less than 1,780 miles east of Hilo.
The storm system could bring wind and rain to Maui County starting Tuesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service in Honolulu.
But it’s still on course to miss the Big Island and USA bases on Oahu to the south, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center and National Hurricane Center report: 85 miles south of Hilo at 8 p.m. Wednesday, still as a Category 1 hurricane, and 245 miles south of Camp H.M. Smith on Oahu 12 hours later.
Hurricanes Madeline (left) and Lester (right).
Midnight Sunday, Aug. 28, Hawaii time: Madeline has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane and is forecast to intensify slightly to a Category 2 storm at peak, 98-mph sustained winds and 121-mph gusts at 8 p.m. Monday. As a result, we believe the impact of this tropical depression will be limited, even if it does become a tropical storm on Tuesday as expected.
Also puttering along with 35 miles per hour winds is Tropical Depression Nine, which is moving toward the west-northwest at 7 miles per hour about 310 west of Havana, Cuba.
At 0900 GMT, Madeline was 755 miles (1,220 kilometers) east of Hilo, Hawaii.
Hurricane Lester, now in the eastern Pacific, may impact Hawaii over the Labor Day weekend, KHNL said. As the Central Pacific Hurricane Center rightly points out, track uncertainties just three days out with central Pacific tropical cyclone are about 130 miles.
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On its approach, Madeline will kick up rough surf and rip currents, especially along the east-facing beaches.
