A second Pacific hurricane, called Lester, was far from Hawaii, and expected to weaken to a tropical storm as it passes the state. Lester is moving toward the west near 14 miles per hour (22 km/h) and this motion is expected to become west northwest later today through early Saturday. About 135 miles south-southwest of Apalachicola, FL, the tropical storm was moving north-northeast at 14 mph, packing 75 mph maximum winds.
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The forecast of rough weather prompted Florida Governor Rick Scott to declare an emergency on Wednesday as many school districts along the Gulf Coast canceled after-school activities and ordered students to stay home on Thursday.
USA oil and gas producers in the east of the Gulf of Mexico removed workers from 10 offshore platforms, moved drilling rigs and shut some output because of the storm. The National Weather Service issued a hurricane warning as the storm dubbed Madeline churned west Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016, toward the island, urging residents to rush through preparations to protect themselves and their property and expect hurricane conditions within the next 36 hours. Those strong storms were becoming more distanced from the storm’s circulation center. A hurricane warning was already in effect for a section of Florida’s Gulf coast from the Suwanne River to Mexico Beach.
“Madeline is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 5 to 10 inches, with isolated maximum amounts near 15 inches, across Hawaii County”, the CPHC said.
The warning covers an area that extends from Marineland, Florida, northward to the South Santee River in SC.
Meanwhile, the disturbance formerly known as Tropical Depression Eight has dissipated.
At 5 p.m. Wednesday, the eye of Lester was about 915 miles east of Hilo or 1,105 miles east of Honolulu.
NEWS BRIEF The first of two hurricanes headed toward Hawaii lost strength and was downgraded to a tropical storm.
Forecasters on Wednesday downgraded Hurricane Madeline to a tropical storm, easing a previously issued warning for Hawaii’s Big Island as the storm trekked south of the island.
Hawaii Governor David Ige signed an emergency proclamation that runs through September 9, freeing up state resources.
The ground may already be saturated from the effects of Madeline, which is now moving away from the islands.
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A tropical storm warning is in effect until at least Thursday afternoon for Hawaii County and Maui County, including the Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe islands.
