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24 Aug 2018 / Hawaii, United States

Hurricane Lane moving north, catastrophic flooding on Big Island

At 200am HST (1200 UTC), the center of Hurricane Lane was located near latitude 18.4 N, longitude 158.0 W. Lane is moving toward the north near 5mph (8km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue today. A turn toward the west is anticipated Saturday, with an increase in forward speed.

On the latest forecast track, the center of Lane will move over, or dangerously close to portions of the main Hawaiian islands later today and tonight. Maximum sustained winds are near 120mph (195km/h) with higher gusts.

Lane remains a powerful category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some weakening is forecast from later today and tonight through late Saturday, but Lane is expected to remain a dangerous hurricane as it approaches the islands. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles (205km).

Tropical storm conditions are already occurring on the Big Island, Maui County and Oahu. These conditions will likely persist through this morning. Hurricane conditions are expected over some areas of Maui County and Oahu starting later today or tonight. Tropical storm or hurricane conditions are possible on Kauai starting tonight or Saturday.

Rain bands will continue to overspread the Hawaiian Islands well ahead of Lane. Excessive rainfall associated with this slow moving hurricane will continue to impact the Hawaiian Islands into the weekend, leading to catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and landslides. Lane is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 10-20 inches, with localized amounts of 30-40 inches possible over portions of the Hawaiian Islands. Over two feet of rain has already fallen at a few locations on the windward side of the Big Islands.

Very large swells generated by the slow moving hurricane will severely impact the Hawaiian Islands into this weekend. These swells will produce life-threatening and damaging surf along exposed shorelines. In addition, a prolonged period of extreme surf will also likely lead to significant coastal erosion.

The combination of a dangerous storm surge and large breaking waves will raise water levels by as much as 2-4 feet above normal tide levels along south and west facing shores near the center of Lane. The surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

(For information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at [email protected])

Source: Central Pacific Hurricane Center, Honolulu, Hurricane Lane Intermediate Advisory No.39A issued at 2.00am HST on 24 August 2018

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.

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