Ignacio sends rain, lifts surf while moving away from isles

Lightning that struck a Hawaii island house and isolated heavy rain were reported there from a weakening Ignacio that continued moving away from the Hawaiian Islands on Tuesday.

The lightning strike caused some damage but nothing serious, and Ignacio weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm.

Surf generated by Ignacio washed sand and debris over roadways, prompted rescues and closed beaches across the state. Uncomfortable humidity made temperatures feel like the high 90s and brought the chance of heavy afternoon showers. Spotty, intense rain was part of the statewide forecast through Thursday.

Surf was expected to range from 10 to 15 feet on east-facing shores and from 9 to 12 feet Wednesday on north shores.

Because of surf with up to 15-foot faces on East Oahu beaches, lifeguards performed 22 rescues Tuesday. As of 3:15 p.m. lifeguards made six rescues at Sandy Beach and one at Makapuu Beach. Overall, there were 15 rescues by personal watercraft.

Shayne Enright, spokeswoman for the Honolulu Emergency Services Department, reported that lifeguards performed 65 preventive actions, helped 105 people to shore and made 125 assists by personal watercraft. Enright said lifeguards are asking the public to stay away from ledges and where the waves crash on the rocks.

On Hawaii island, lightning struck the porch of a house at Hawaiian Paradise Park in Puna on Tuesday, according to Hawaii Island Civil Defense. No one was injured and the house remained livable. Authorities were continuing to monitor episodes of heavy rain, said Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira.

High surf generated by Ignacio closed beach parks at Coconut Island, Onekahakaha, Kealoha and the Bayfront canoe area and Bayfront Highway in Hilo between Pauahi Street and Waianuenue Avenue. The surf also sent sand and ocean debris over Kamehameha Highway near Kaaawa Elementary School on Oahu.

On Kauai, officials closed Poipu Beach and all east-facing beaches, from Anahola to Lydgate beach parks, because of high surf and hazardous ocean conditions.

A high-surf warning for east-facing shores is in effect until 6 p.m. Thursday. A reinforcement swell from Hurricane Jimena is forecast to arrive Wednesday, and the high-surf warning may be extended.

At 5 p.m. Tuesday, Ignacio was about 260 miles north-northeast of Honolulu and 340 miles north of Hilo, moving northwest at 10 mph.

“Ignacio will cut off the tradewinds entirely as it passes northeast of the islands through (Tuesday night),” the National Weather Service said. “Very humid conditions with spotty heavy showers, mainly each afternoon, will continue through most of the week.”

The humid conditions generated by Ignacio will make it feel like temperatures are in the upper 90s, forecasters said.

Meanwhile, Jimena moved into the Central Pacific on Tuesday morning as a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 120 mph.

It’s the sixth hurricane of the Central Pacific season.

At 5 p.m. Tuesday the National Weather Service said Jimena was 910 miles east southeast of Hilo and was expected to eventually take a northerly course about 700 to 800 miles east of Hawaii island. It was moving west-northwest at 9 mph.