First storm of cyclone season will bring surf, humidity

Tropical Depression Ela grows weaker and weaker, but it’ll bring some powerful surf to windward coasts Friday and oppressively humid conditions this weekend.

Its debut late Wednesday night as the Central Pacific’s first tropical storm of the season was short-lived, as it was quickly downgraded to a tropical depression Thursday morning.

There’s a chance that by Friday evening Ela will be further downgraded to a post-tropical low-pressure system, Central Pacific Hurricane Center meteorologist Jon Jelsema said.

“Ela has seen better days,” Jelsema said Thursday night. “She has weakened considerably and lost any potential for further development. We’re expecting her to decrease in intensity, but remnants of the system are going to be shifting to the north and likely lighten up the wind flow.”

The forecast for Saturday and Sunday: little wind, showers over interior island sections and humid conditions, “noticeably more than it has been so far this year,” Jelsema said.

East- and northeast-facing coasts will see surf of 6 to 8 feet, and a high-surf advisory now in effect is expected to continue through late Saturday night.

Ela was 500 miles east-northeast of Hilo at 8 p.m. Thursday.

It was heading northwest at 12 mph with maximum sustained winds at 5 p.m. of 35 mph.

Two other systems are still being monitored south of the island.

One is 92-C, located 575 miles south of South Point, Hawaii island. It had a 70 percent chance of developing into a tropical depression Thursday or Friday but will likely stay south of the islands.

The other, 91-C, was 1,000 miles southeast of Kauai and poses no threat to Hawaii. It is expected to track west over the next several days.

“It’s unprecedented to see this amount of tropical cyclone activity this early in the hurricane season,” Jelsema said.

Tradewinds are expected to return Sunday night into Monday.

The Waikiki Community Center will hold a hurricane preparedness meeting at 11 a.m. Friday for those who live and work in Waikiki.

City Department of Emergency Management spokesman John Cummings will discuss hurricane preparedness, including a supplies checklist, provisions for pets, insurance, flood zone map and how to spot hurricane hazards.

Michael K. Smith, director of training and readiness at Navy Region Hawaii, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, will share how to make a seven-day disaster supplies kit, and discuss the items in a kit that must be updated.

Those planning to attend should call 923-1802. It is free to Waikiki Community Center members and $2 for guests. Parking is free at 310 Paoakalani Ave.