HI-EMA: Heavy Rain, High Surf Expected This Weekend

The Hawai’i Emergency Management Agency met with the National Weather Service and federal, state, and local emergency partners regarding an area of moisture and two tropical disturbances below the state on Friday. The unstable weather could impact the state over the weekend and into next week, according to officials.

An area of moisture to the west-southwest of the Big Island is expected to bring heavy rainfall to the Big Island and Maui County, beginning Saturday night and lasting through Sunday. The system is also likely to bring high surf as result of a north-northwest swell. Forecasters are predicting 10 to 20 foot surf on north-facing shores and five to 10 foot surf on east-facing shores.

Beyond the area of moisture, NWS is paying close attention to two tropical disturbances below the state.

Tropical Disturbance 98-C is likely to drift west-northwest and cross into the Western Pacific early next week. It is not likely to threaten the state.

Tropical Disturbance 97-C was located about 500 miles south of Hilo Friday afternoon with the potential to organize over the weekend, according to officials.

Forecasters note that there are high levels of uncertainty regarding the storms, but TD 97-C is moving slowly towards the north-northwest on models. The movement appears to continue through Monday before making a sharp east turn on Tuesday.

Early forecasts say that there is the potential that the storm would then be on a northeasterly path towards the state.

Heavy rain and high surf are possible, however, forecasters note that it is too early to predict whether or not the system will take the predicted path and to what extent the island might feel its effects.