‘Iffy’ storm forecast predicts high winds

Hawaii is in for a bit of a blow.

But just how strong the wind from Tropical Storm Guillermo will be depends on the path it takes.

If it keeps to its track Wednesday, the isles will escape the worst of the weather, forecasters say.

But if it veers to the left — as it did by 80 miles Tuesday — the islands could experience tropical storm-force winds of 39 mph or higher, probably Thursday, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

As things stood Tuesday, Hilo had only a 10 percent chance of getting wind that strong; Kahului’s odds were slightly higher at 16 percent, forecasters said.

Wednesday will likely be a regular tradewind day, with passing clouds and showers affecting windward and mauka areas, said Norman Hui, a meteorologist with the hurricane center.

“There is uncertainty how close it would get to the islands,” he said of Guillermo. “That’s the iffy part.”

With maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, the storm was centered 315 miles east-northeast of Hilo and 490 miles east of Honolulu as of 11 p.m. Tuesday. It was churning west-northwest at 8 mph.

On its current track it was expected to pass 150 miles north-northeast of Hawaii island Wednesday night and 120 miles north-northeast of Maui on Thursday, forecasters said.

Maui and Hawaii counties were under a tropical storm watch and a flash-flood watch Tuesday night, and a tropical storm warning was in effect Tuesday for offshore waters 40 to 240 nautical miles out.

As of Wednesday all east shores were under a high-surf advisory.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said Guillermo appears to be tracking north of the islands, but “it doesn’t mean, though, that we’re in the clear,” adding, “It means that we still need to be vigilant.”

The city does not plan to open any shelters, the mayor said Tuesday at a news conference at the Department of Emergency Management. But he urged people to pay attention to weather updates on TV and radio and in the newspaper.

Department of Facility Maintenance Director Ross Sasamura said crews are clearing drainage canals and continue to work on clearing stream mouths.

He said the city is focused on eight areas, and he expects them to be completed by Thursday.

Guillermo should make its closest pass to Oahu sometime after 2 p.m. Thursday, and to Kauai early Friday, the hurricane center said. It was expected eventually to weaken into a tropical depression, likely by Saturday.