With one storm barreling toward the island state after another, some Hawaii residents said they’re developing a special skill at preparing for storms, in a cycle of boarding up windows and then taking the protections down, again and again.
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Madeline, about 200 miles east of Hilo and 410 miles south-southeast of Honolulu, was moving west at 12 mph, according to Central Pacific Hurricane Center. These conditions include high winds, large swell and heavy rain.
There is still a possibility that Lester could drift west of the current forecast track.
In anticipation of Hurricane Lester, the National Weather Service has issued a Hurricane Watch for Hawai’i County.
Hurricane Lester appeared well-developed and had a clear eye in imagery from the MODIS instrument or Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite. The surf is expected to peak this weekend with 15- to 25-foot waves.
Lester weakened to a Category 2 but was expected to remain a hurricane as it passes north of the islands Saturday and Sunday, said meteorologist Bob Burke of the National Weather Service.
The Hawaiian islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe were under a tropical storm watch, but there were no alerts for Oahu or Kauai.
Because it is Labor Day weekend, the city said, all 205 of the city’s campsites (which hold up to 10 people each) are sold out, as well as four large group campsites. “The president asked Administrator Fugate to keep him up to date on response efforts and to alert him if there are any significant unmet needs”.
Hurricane Madeline weakened to a Category 1 hurricane but is still headed toward the Big Island with a hurricane warning issued, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said Wednesday. The tropical storm left parts of Hawaii’s Big Island soggy but intact as residents of the island state prepare for a second round of potentially volatile tropical weather.
“We assessed our school campuses (Thursday) morning, and no damages were reported”, schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi said of the 41 Hawaii island public schools.
University of Hawaii Maui College and all other UH facilities on Maui will close at noon, with no events on Saturday either – including the Maui Swap Meet at UH Maui.
As Madeline continues to track away from Hawaii, Hurricane Lester will approach the islands with rain, rough surf and gusty winds into Labor Day weekend. Fridays, will remain locked through the weekend.
The storm is weakening but it’s expected to remain a hurricane as it passes the islands Saturday and Sunday.
Madeline was downgraded Wednesday though it brought periods of intense rainfall. Madeline deposited 2.45 inches of rain in the Puna subdivision of Mountain View, and the storm surge flooded roads and cut off homes in Kapoho.
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“For those who anticipate impact from High Surf”, civil defense officials stated in a 2:15 p.m. message, “shelters will open at 5 PM today at Pahoa Community Center and at Keaukaha – Kawananakoa Gym”.
