8 AM: National Weather Service Update

Hurricane Lane, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, 8 a.m. NOAA

Hurricane Lane, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, 6:30 a.m. NOAA

Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, 8 a.m.: National Weather Service Update

At 8 a.m., the center of Hurricane Lane was located by satellite and radar imagery near near latitude 17.1 north, longitude 157.6 west, about 205 miles SW of Kailua-Kona.

Lane is moving toward the northwest near 7 mph.

A turn toward the NNW and little change in forward speed is expected today.

A turn toward the north is anticipated tonight and Friday, as Lane’s forward motion slows.

A turn toward the west is expected on Saturday and Sunday, with an increase in forward speed. On the forecast track, the center of Lane will move very close to or over the portions of the main Hawaiian
islands later today through Friday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 130 mph with higher gusts. Lane is a powerful Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Steady weakening is forecast during the next couple of days. Lane is expected to remain a hurricane as it draws closer to the islands.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles. NOAA buoy 51002 located about 250 miles southwest of the Big Island recently reported sustained winds of 71 mph and a gust of 94 mph.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected on portions of the Big Island beginning later this morning, with hurricane conditions expected in some areas by tonight. Tropical storm conditions are
expected to begin over portions of Maui County later today, with hurricane conditions expected in some areas by Friday. Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin on Oahu late tonight, with hurricane conditions expected Friday into Friday night.

RAINFALL: Rain bands from Hurricane Lane will continue to overspread the Hawaiian Islands. Excessive rainfall associated with Lane will impact the Hawaiian Islands into the weekend, leading to significant and life-threatening flash flooding and landslides. Lane is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 10 to 20 inches, with localized amounts in excess of 30 inches over the Hawaiian Islands. Over 12 inches of rain has already fallen on portions of the Big Island.

SURF: As Lane is slow-moving, large swells generated by the hurricane will severely impact the Hawaiian Islands over the next couple of days. These swells will produce very large and damaging surf along exposed west and south facing shorelines. A prolonged period of high surf will likely lead to significant coastal erosion.

STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and large breaking waves will raise water levels by as much as 2 to 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.