Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Wednesday, April 24, 2024 79° Today's Paper


Top News

Olivia, Norman begin a gradual weakening trend

1/2
Swipe or click to see more

CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER

The forecast track for Hurricane Norman as of 11 p.m. Thursday.

2/2
Swipe or click to see more

CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER

The forecast track for Hurricane Olivia as of 11 p.m. Hawaii time Thursday.

UPDATE: 11 p.m.

Olivia is now a Category 3 hurricane 1,555 miles east of Hilo and 1,730 east of Honolulu.

Meteorologists expect it to weaken as it nears the islands early next week, but it’s uncertain by how much. Forecasters said Olivia will then move through the region from east to west Tuesday night through midweek.

At 11 p.m., Olivia was moving toward the west-northwest near 15 mph.

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 125 mph with higher gusts. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles.

As Hurricane Norman passes northeast of the state, trades are forecast to trend down through Friday.

“Clouds and showers will favor windward and mauka locations Friday, then shift over the interior and leeward locations each afternoon beginning Saturday,” weather officials said.

The National Weather Service said Norman is moving toward the northwest near 8 mph.

Meteorologists are warning of high surf, but they don’t expect the storm to directly affect the state.

Norman was packing maximum sustained winds near 85 mph, making it a Category 1 hurricane. Wind shear and cooler ocean temperatures are expected to weaken it over the next few days.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.

5 p.m.

Olivia has strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane and is forecast to approach the islands from the east next week.

Olivia was moving toward the west-northwest near 14 mph this evening. Weather officials said it’s expected continue on this track through Saturday, followed by a gradual turn toward the west.

At about 5 p.m., Olivia was about 1,645 miles east of Hilo and about 1,830 miles east-southeast of Honolulu. Maximum sustained winds are near 130 mph with higher gusts. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center while tropical storm-force winds extend 115 miles.

Under the current forecast, Olivia would enter the Central Pacific over the weekend as a Category 2 storm, with approximate maximum sustained winds of 100 mph. By the end of the current 5-day forecast, it would be a Category 1 storm just a couple hundred miles northeast of Hilo. While it is too soon to know Olivia’s potential impact on Hawaii, forecasters said their confidence in the current 5-day-forecast path is “very high.”

Much closer to Hawaii, Hurricane Norman continues to weaken well east-northeast of Maui as it tracks toward the northwest. Maximum sustained winds are near 100 mph with higher gusts, generating large surf for east-facing shores.

A high surf warning is in effect until 6 a.m. Friday for eastern shores of most islands. Forecasters said a large swell from Norman will peak tonight and gradually decline Friday.

Hurricane-force winds extend up to 30 miles from the center while tropical storm-force winds extend out 105 miles.

Norman is forecast to pass 200 to 300 miles to the northeast of the island chain over the next couple of days. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center said it was moving northwest near 9 mph this evening.

At 5 p.m., Norman was about 275 miles northeast of Hilo and about 405 miles east of Honolulu, forecasters said.

Hawaii County officials said that winds may increase in “localized areas” today, and that all county beach parks on the north and east side of the island, from South Point to Upolu Point, are closed for the day. All permits and reservations for these parks have been cancelled, they added.

11 a.m.

Norman weakened to a Category 2 hurricane this morning as it continues on a track parallel to the islands.

Located about 295 miles east-northeast of Hilo and 450 miles east of Honolulu, Norman was packing maximum sustained winds of 110 mph while heading west-northwest at 8 mph at 5 a.m. today, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

This motion is expected to continue for the next few days. On the forecast track, the center of Norman is expected to pass 200 to 300 miles to the northeast of the main Hawaiian Islands over the next couple of days.

Maximum sustained winds are near 110 mph with higher gusts. Weakening is forecast during the next few days.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from Norman’s center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.

Meanwhile, further east behind Norman, Olivia gained in strengthand is now a strong Category 3 hurricane.

Located about 1,734 miles east of Hilo, Olivia was packing maximum sustained winds of 125 mph and heading west-northwest at 14 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

This motion is expected to continue through Saturday. A gradual turn toward the west is expected Saturday night or Sunday.

Fluctuations in strength are possible tonight. Gradual weakening is expected to begin on Friday and continue for the next few days.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from Olivia’s center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

Hurricane Norman weakened slightly overnight as it continued on a west-northwest track.

Located about 305 miles east-northeast of Hilo and 480 miles east of Honolulu, Norman was packing maximum sustained winds of 115 mph while heading west-northwest at 8 mph at 5 a.m. today, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

A turn toward the northwest is expected today. Norman is forecast to continue to move toward the northwest on Friday and Saturday, and along the forecast track, the center of Norman is expected to pass 200 to 300 miles to the northeast of the main Hawaiian Islands.

Norman is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Steady weakening is expected during the next few days.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from Norman’s center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.

Meanwhile, further east, Olivia strengthened to a major hurricane overnight.

Located about 1,820 miles west of Hilo, Olivia was packing maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and was headed west-northwest at 15 at 5 a.m., according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

This motion with some increase in forward speed is expected during the next couple of days. A gradual turn toward the west is expected over the weekend.

Olivia is a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some strengthening is possible today. After that, a gradual weakening trend is forecast to begin tonight or Friday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from Olivia’s center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles.

A high surf warning is in effect for the east shores of most of the state as Norman pulls alongside the islands.

A large swell from Norman will peak today along east-facing shores of the Big Island, Maui, Molokai, Oahu and Kauai, the National Weather Service said in a bulletin.

Surf up to 15 feet is expected along the east shores of Oahu, Molokai and Kauai shores today. The east shores of the Big Island and Maui, meanwhile, could see surf up to 18 feet today.

By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the Terms of Service. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our guidelines. Having trouble with comments? Learn more here.