2 A.M. UPDATE: Tropical Storm Watch Cancelled

The Tropical Storm Watch that was posted for Hawai’i County has been cancelled as the center of Ana has now passed its closest point to the Big Island at this time and is expected to move to the northwest overnight with little change in forward motion. Ana weakened slightly to 80 mph maximum sustained winds.  A decrease in forward speed is expected Saturday night and Sunday. The center of Ana is expected to pass within 175 miles southwest of the rest of the main Hawaiian islands this weekend.

A flood advisory has been extended once again with moderate to heavy rainfall associated with Hurricane Ana continuing over the Big Island. Heaviest amounts have been occurring along a band covering the northeast half of the island. Rain gauges have been occasionally recording 1 – 2 inches of rain per hour within this band.

Summary of Alerts

FLOOD ADVISORY – Posted for Island of Hawai’i through 4:30 a.m.

HURRICANE WARNING – In effect for all Hawaiian offshore waters.

TROPICAL STORM WARNING – Still listed for all Hawaiian offshore waters, Big Island leeward coastal waters, and Big Island southeast waters.

HIGH SURF WARNING – West shores of Big Island through 6:00pm.

HIGH SURF ADVISORY – South shores of Big Island until 6:00pm.

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY – Big Island windward waters through 6:00pm.

Current Situation

At 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, the center of Hurricane Ana was located 225 miles west-southwest of Hilo, 170 miles southwest of Kailua-Kona, and 160 miles west-southwest of South Point. Ana is still a Category 1 hurricane with 80 mph maximum sustained winds. The system is moving northwest at 13 mph. Hurricane force winds extend outward 25 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend 115 miles.

A decrease in forward speed is expected later today and Sunday with a turn toward the west. On the forecast track, the center of Ana will pass about 175 miles southwest of the rest of the main Hawaiian islands this weekend. Ana is expected to maintain hurricane status through Saturday and slowly weaken Sunday.

As the strongest winds associated with Ana are moving away from the Big Island. While tropical storm conditions are no longer expected to occur in Hawaii County, surf and seas generated from the storm continue to be elevated.

Outer rain bands of hurricane Ana continue to bring showers and thunderstorms to the Big Island. Rainfall has been slowly increasing across Maui county and Oahu, and should expect this trend towards increasing winds and showers over the smaller islands.

Satellite image at 2am on October 18, 2014 / Image: NOAA

Potential Big Island Impacts 

Winds: Kau and South Kona may get winds from 25 to 35 mph, gusting to 50 mph tonight. Higher elevations of the Big Island could see wind numbers from 40 – 50 mph, gusting to 60 mph.

Rain: Rainfall rates of 4 to 6 inches, possibly up to a foot of rain along southeast facing slopes, are expected.

Surf: Hawai’i County Civil Defense reports surf of 10 to 15 is already occurring near South Point. The surf is expected to peak tonight and Saturday morning at 20 feet along the Puna and Ka’u coastlines during the closest approach. Elevated surf up to 12 ft is possible along the Kona coast on Saturday.

Seas: Leeward waters of the Big Island can expect 35 – 45 mph winds, gusting to 65 mph with seas up to 25 feet. Off Cape Kumukahi, winds are expected to reach 20 – 30 mph with seas of 15 – 20 feet.