Hurricane Lane Weakening, Now Category 1

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Kaua‘i Leeward, Kaua‘i Mountains, Kaua‘i Windward, and Ni‘ihau.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Central O‘ahu, Haleakala Summit, Kahoolawe, Lana‘i Makai, Lana‘i Mauka, Leeward Haleakala, Maui Central Valley, Maui Leeward West, Maui Windward West, Moloka‘i Leeward, Moloka‘i Windward, O‘ahu Ko‘olau, O‘ahu North Shore, O‘ahu South Shore, Olomana, Waianae Coast, Waianae Mountains and Windward Haleakala.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Big Island Interior, Big Island North and East, Big Island Summits, Kohala, Kona, and South Big Island.

Hurricane Lane is a category 1 storm this afternoon, with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph.

As of 2 p.m., Hurricane Lane was located 120 miles south of Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Lane is moving north-northeast at 2 mph.

A slow northerly motion is expected to continue through the rest of this afternoon and tonight. A turn toward the west is anticipated on 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 tonight and Saturday.

Regardless of the hurricane track, life threatening impacts will extend far beyond the center position as this hurricane approaches the islands. Do not focus on the exact forecast track or intensity of Lane.
The close proximity of this hurricane track to the main Hawaiian Islands and the forecast timing of Lane’s turn to the west remains challenging. Be prepared for changes in future forecasts as Lane
approaches the islands from the south.

Although the official forecast does not explicitly indicate Lane’s center making landfall, there is still an outside chance that it could.

Tropical storm conditions remains in place on the Big Island, Maui County, and O‘ahu, and is likely to persist through tonight. Hurricane conditions are expected over some areas of Maui County and O‘ahu starting tonight. Tropical storm conditions are possible on Kaua‘i starting late tonight or Saturday.

A slow moving rain band associated with Hurricane Lane continues to affect mainly the eastern half of the island chain at mid-afternoon. It is likely the band will remain over the islands into the nighttime
hours. Heavy rains and flash flooding are still ongoing over the north and east parts of the Big Island. Although, rainfall has been rather light on Moloka‘i, O‘ahu and Kaua‘i, heavy showers could develop
at any moment.

The potential for excessive rainfall is high, which could lead to life threatening flash flooding, as well as land and mudslides. Flooding will be possible in areas that are typically not prone to flooding. Lane is still capable in produce rain accumulations of 10 to 20 inches, with localized amounts of 30 to 40 inches. Over two feet of rain has already fallen at a few locations on the windward side of the Big
Island.

Swells generated by Lane will produce very large and life- threatening surf and dangerous rip currents along exposed west and south facing shores of all Hawaiian Islands. A prolonged period of high surf will likely lead to significant coastal erosion. Elevated surf is expected to continue through tonight and into Saturday.

A High Surf Warning is in effect through tonight for the west facing shores of the Big Island and south facing shores of the remaining islands. Expect surf between 10 to 15 feet along the Kona coast, and
15 to 25 feet along the south facing shores.

A High Surf Advisory is effect for the east facing shores of all islands at 6 to 10 feet through Saturday.

The combination of storm surge and large breaking waves is expected to raise water levels above normal tide levels. This is expected to result in beach erosion and overwash onto vulnerable coastal roadways through Saturday, particularly for vulnerable low-lying coastal areas during and around the time of normal high tide cycles. If Hurricane Lane makes landfall, water levels will rise from 2 to 4 feet above normal along south and west facing shores near the center of Lane. The surge will be
accompanied by large waves.

Tornadoes and large waterspouts will be possible with Lane, mainly along and to the right of the track of the hurricane.