Hone Saturday update #4: Tropical storm has become a hurricane and is passing South Point

11 p.m. Saturday update: Tropical Storm Hone has become a hurricane, officials with the National Hurricane Center announced late Saturday night.

The center of Hurricane Hone is being tracked by the South Hawai‘i WSR-88D radar as it continues tracking westward, passing just south of South Point. Hone is now 115 miles south of Hilo with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph with higher gusts.

Hone is moving toward the west near 12 mph, and this motion is expected to continue into Monday, with slight slowing expected thereafter.

Little change in strength is expected tonight into early Sunday, followed by a gradual weakening trend Sunday afternoon onward.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles.

Tropical Storm conditions are expected on the Big Island through early Sunday. Winds are expected to be strongest downslope of higher terrain, over headlands, and through passes.

Hone is expected to produce storm total rainfall of 6 to 12 inches over mainly windward and southeast-facing slopes of the Big Island, with locally higher amounts possible. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches will be possible over portions of the smaller islands, mainly windward.

Surf associated with large swells generated by Hone will continue through Sunday as Hone continues westward. Expect dangerous conditions with life-threatening surf and rip currents.

8 p.m. Saturday update: Tropical Storm Hone continues to move west near 15 mph and about 105 miles south-southeast of Hilo as of 8 p.m. Saturday. This motion is expected to continue into Monday, with slight slowing expected early next week.

Maximum sustained winds were measured by the U.S. Air Force Hurricane aircraft near 70 mph with higher gusts. Modest strengthening is possible over the next 24 to 36 hours, with Hone holding near hurricane intensity Sunday into Monday.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles from the center.

Tropical Storm conditions are expected on the Big Island tonight through early Sunday. Winds are expected to be strongest downslope of higher terrain, over headlands, and through passes.

Hone is expected to produce storm total rainfall of 6 to 12 inches over mainly windward and southeast-facing slopes of the Big Island, with locally higher amounts possible. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches will be possible over portions of the smaller islands, mainly windward.

Surf associated with large swells generated by Hone will continue through Sunday as Hone continues westward. Expect dangerous conditions with life-threatening surf and rip currents.

The next update will be released at 11 p.m.

12:37 p.m. Saturday update: The Central Pacific Hurricane Center reports that, as of 11 a.m., Tropical Storm Hone is 185 miles southeast of Hilo, with sustained winds of 65 mph and moving west at 15 mph. 

East-facing shores of Hawaiʻi Island are reporting high surf conditions. High winds and flooding rains are forecast to impact Hawaii Island as early as this afternoon and into this evening.

The National Weather Service flood watch for Hawai‘i Island and high surf warning for east-facing shores remain in effect. 

The red flag fire weather warning for areas of west Hawai‘i has been canceled.

Due to the impact to Hawai‘i Island from Tropical Storm Hone, Waipi‘o Valley Access Road is closed.

All county beach parks are closed until further notice.

Hele On Bus Service has canceled routes through the weekend. For a list of canceled bus routes, please visit the County of Hawaii, Civil Defense website at https://hawaii-county-civil-defense-agency-hawaiicountygis.hub.arcgis.com/.

Public Shelters are now open. The following shelters are open as of 12 noon today:

• In Ka`u – Ka`u Herkes Gym and Na`alehu Elementary School Cafeteria
• In Puna – Pahoa High School Gym, Kea`au High School Library and G Building, and Mt View Elementary School Cafeteria.
• In Hilo – Waiakea High School Gym.
• In Hamakua – Honoka`a High School and Intermediate School Cafeteria.

The county’s Civil Defense Agency also said that those planning to ride out the storm at a public shelter should prepare all personal items to stay overnight. The agency also advises people to get to a designated shelter no later than 6 p.m.

Original post: Hone remains a strong tropical storm as it continues west toward the Big Island.

Now 260 miles southeast of Hilo, the storm remains on track to pass near or south of the Big Island tonight into early Sunday, according to the 5 a.m. report issued by the National Hurricane Center.

Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Hone is expected to be a hurricane Sunday through Monday southwest of the Big Island.

Click here for information on how to prepare for the storm.

Hone is moving at 15 mph and is expected to continue over the next several days with a gradual decrease in forward speed.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles from the center.

Tropical Storm conditions are expected on the Big Island, beginning as early as this evening and continuing through early Sunday. Winds are expected to be strongest downslope of higher terrain, over headlands, and through passes.

Hone is expected to produce storm total rainfall of 5 to 10 inches over mainly windward and southeast facing slopes of the Big Island, with locally higher amounts possible.

Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches will be possible over portions of the smaller islands, mainly windward.

Surf associated with large swells generated by Hone will quickly build today through Sunday as Hone continues westward. Expect dangerous conditions with life-threatening surf and rip currents.

This story will be updated when the next advisory from the National Hurricane Center is released at 11 a.m.