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Hawaii Braces for Hurricane Lane, a Rare Category 4 Storm Hawaii Braces for Hurricane Lane, a Rare Category 4 Storm
(about 3 hours later)
WAILEA, Hawaii — Hawaii was bracing on Wednesday for possible landfall from Hurricane Lane, a rare Category 4 storm in the Pacific Ocean that forecasters are warning could bring whipping winds, flooding and high surf.WAILEA, Hawaii — Hawaii was bracing on Wednesday for possible landfall from Hurricane Lane, a rare Category 4 storm in the Pacific Ocean that forecasters are warning could bring whipping winds, flooding and high surf.
The storm weakened on Wednesday after reaching Category 5 strength the night before, according to the National Weather Service. As of 5 a.m. local time, it was about 315 miles from the southwest shore of the island of Hawaii, also known as the Big Island, with wind speeds of 155 miles per hour. The storm, which rose to Category 5 strength on Tuesday evening, weakened slightly on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. As of 5 a.m. local time Wednesday, it was about 315 miles from the southwest shore of the island of Hawaii, also known as the Big Island, with wind speeds of 155 miles per hour.
As the hurricane raced toward Hawaii, the state issued an emergency declaration and closed all government offices, including public schools, on the Big Island and Maui. Tourists and residents were closely following the hurricane’s path and the latest forecasts, with some visitors rushing to airports on Wednesday to try to book flights to leave before the worst of the storm was expected to arrive.As the hurricane raced toward Hawaii, the state issued an emergency declaration and closed all government offices, including public schools, on the Big Island and Maui. Tourists and residents were closely following the hurricane’s path and the latest forecasts, with some visitors rushing to airports on Wednesday to try to book flights to leave before the worst of the storm was expected to arrive.
But as rain started to fall on Wednesday morning on Maui, Athena Walsh, a taxi driver, was not fazed. She said she was not yet convinced that Hurricane Lane posed a serious threat, noting that only tourists and new residents panic in these situations.But as rain started to fall on Wednesday morning on Maui, Athena Walsh, a taxi driver, was not fazed. She said she was not yet convinced that Hurricane Lane posed a serious threat, noting that only tourists and new residents panic in these situations.
“I’ve seen so many hurricane warnings and then it’s a beautiful day,” said Ms. Walsh, who has lived in Hawaii since 1979. “We’re not going to worry and stress about it.”“I’ve seen so many hurricane warnings and then it’s a beautiful day,” said Ms. Walsh, who has lived in Hawaii since 1979. “We’re not going to worry and stress about it.”
Hurricane Lane is the second major storm to pass near Hawaii in recent weeks. Hurricane Hector grew into a Category 4 storm as it barreled through the Pacific. It eventually veered south of Hawaii and did not make landfall.Hurricane Lane is the second major storm to pass near Hawaii in recent weeks. Hurricane Hector grew into a Category 4 storm as it barreled through the Pacific. It eventually veered south of Hawaii and did not make landfall.
For a brief period, Hurricane Lane was a Category 5, with winds at 160 m.p.h., making it only the second storm at that strength to travel within 350 miles of Hawaii in the state’s history, according to the Weather Service.For a brief period, Hurricane Lane was a Category 5, with winds at 160 m.p.h., making it only the second storm at that strength to travel within 350 miles of Hawaii in the state’s history, according to the Weather Service.
Tropical storm-force winds could arrive on the Big Island by Wednesday afternoon local time, with hurricane-force winds to follow soon afterward, said Gavin Shigesato, a National Weather Service meteorologist. The storm was expected to continue north toward the islands of Maui and Oahu, arriving around Thursday morning, he said.Tropical storm-force winds could arrive on the Big Island by Wednesday afternoon local time, with hurricane-force winds to follow soon afterward, said Gavin Shigesato, a National Weather Service meteorologist. The storm was expected to continue north toward the islands of Maui and Oahu, arriving around Thursday morning, he said.
As of 8 a.m. Wednesday in Hawaii, the eye of the storm was moving west-northwest toward Hawaii at about 8 m.p.h., according to the National Weather Service. The center of the storm was forecast to move near or over the main Hawaiian islands from Thursday through Saturday. Hurricane-force winds of at least 74 m.p.h. were extending about 40 miles from the center of the storm. As of 5 a.m. Wednesday in Hawaii, the storm was moving west-northwest toward Hawaii at about 9 m.p.h., he said. Hurricane-force winds of at least 74 m.p.h. were extending about 40 miles from the center of the storm.
Stephanie and Marc Johnston, from Melbourne, Australia, were enjoying their belated honeymoon on Kauai when they decided Tuesday night to cut the trip short. Douglas Fink, who was visiting Maui from Scranton, Pa., with his wife and three children, said his family considered changing their flights to leave on Wednesday instead of Saturday. They decided to stay, he said on Wednesday morning, waiting to hop in a taxi as it started to rain.
“We thought we might get stuck here and regardless the weather would be bad,” Ms. Johnston, 32, said at Honolulu International Airport, where the couple was waiting for a flight out. “It’ll just be some rain and wind, unless the forecasters get it wrong,” said Mr. Fink, adding that their hotel, the Four Seasons Resort Maui, had placed extra water bottles in their room. “We’ll spend the morning snorkeling and then make sure our devices are charged up.”
The pair had gotten married in December and had originally planned to leave on Monday, according to Mr. Johnston, 33. Odessa Reynon, who was working cleaning the lobby at the Four Seasons early Wednesday morning, said her family had stocked up on food, water and supplies from Costco. Ms. Reynon, who lives on Maui’s north shore, said it was the first major hurricane to threaten Maui since she moved there seven years ago.
“Honestly this all sucks,” he said. “We were only here for a few days. I didn’t even get to do my tan properly.”
Odessa Reynon, who was working cleaning the lobby at the Four Seasons in Maui early Wednesday morning, said her family had stocked up on food, water and supplies from Costco. Ms. Reynon, who lives on Maui’s north shore, said it was the first major hurricane to threaten Maui since she moved there seven years ago.
“We’re very nervous,” Ms. Reynon said. “We’re nervous most for our safety, but also about our property.”“We’re very nervous,” Ms. Reynon said. “We’re nervous most for our safety, but also about our property.”
Around sunrise on Wednesday at the Kahului Airport in Maui, there were few signs that a Category 4 storm was approaching. The airport was largely quiet, except for one family that was desperately trying to change their travel plans to leave early. (They said they were too stressed to discuss their plans with a reporter.)Around sunrise on Wednesday at the Kahului Airport in Maui, there were few signs that a Category 4 storm was approaching. The airport was largely quiet, except for one family that was desperately trying to change their travel plans to leave early. (They said they were too stressed to discuss their plans with a reporter.)
Vicky Maywald, who was visiting from Houston with her family, was waiting on Wednesday to board a short flight from Maui to Oahu. They had already booked a house rental on Oahu, she said.Vicky Maywald, who was visiting from Houston with her family, was waiting on Wednesday to board a short flight from Maui to Oahu. They had already booked a house rental on Oahu, she said.
“This trip has been in the works for over a year,” Ms. Maywald said at the airport. “We had all our flights booked and don’t want to change anything yet.”“This trip has been in the works for over a year,” Ms. Maywald said at the airport. “We had all our flights booked and don’t want to change anything yet.”
The state also closed all government offices, as well as public schools, on the Big Island and Maui, and the University of Hawaii shut down several of its campuses. Some stores were also selling out of water and other supplies ahead of the storm. The state also closed all government offices, as well as all public schools on Thursday and Friday; the University of Hawaii also shut down several of its campuses. Some stores were also selling out of water and other supplies ahead of the storm.
State authorities were preparing for what could be the strongest storm to strike since Hurricane Iniki in 1992, the last hurricane to make landfall in the state, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The storm reached the island of Kauai as a Category 4 system, causing extensive damage, forcing residents to flee their homes and leaving thousands of people homeless. State authorities were preparing for what could be the strongest storm to strike since Hurricane Iniki in 1992, which made landfall on the island of Kauai as a Category 4 system. It caused extensive damage, forced residents to flee their homes and left thousands of people homeless.
The only other Category 5 storm to pass within 350 miles of the state was Hurricane John in 1994. It traveled south of the islands and did not make landfall.The only other Category 5 storm to pass within 350 miles of the state was Hurricane John in 1994. It traveled south of the islands and did not make landfall.
Gov. David Ige said on Twitter on Wednesday that a flash flood watch was in effect for Hawaii Island, which has not been hit by a hurricane since modern weather records began, according to NOAA.
As Hurricane Lane rolls toward Hawaii, mountainous areas could be particularly prone to flooding, and the southern shores could experience damaging surf levels, with more than 20 inches of rain possible. Tornadoes and large waterspouts are also possible, and the Weather Service warned residents to prepare for considerable property damage, saying some locations “may be uninhabitable for weeks.”As Hurricane Lane rolls toward Hawaii, mountainous areas could be particularly prone to flooding, and the southern shores could experience damaging surf levels, with more than 20 inches of rain possible. Tornadoes and large waterspouts are also possible, and the Weather Service warned residents to prepare for considerable property damage, saying some locations “may be uninhabitable for weeks.”
Governor Ige signed an emergency proclamation on Tuesday to mobilize state resources before the storm’s arrival. Officials had placed food, water and generators in every county, he said. Gov. David Ige of Hawaii signed an emergency proclamation on Tuesday to mobilize state resources before the storm’s arrival. Officials had placed food, water and generators in every county, he said.
He later signed a memorandum granting administrative leave to nonessential state employees on Oahu and Kauai for Thursday and Friday. And at a news conference Wednesday afternoon, he said he had requested a disaster declaration from the president.
Officials are in the process of closing commercial harbors and will close some highways when the storm arrives, Governor Ige said. He urged residents to be prepared to shelter in place.
“We just want people to be safe,” he said.