Wind shear worked to tear apart Tropical Storm Guillermo on its track north of the islands Wednesday, but potentially dangerous surf from the storm remains a concern.
The east shores of Hawaii island, Maui, Molokai, Oahu and Kauai were under a high surf warning, with waves of 10 to 15 feet expected through Thursday afternoon.
Honolulu lifeguards urged people to stay off shoreline ledges, where waves could wash people into the ocean, and said only experts should be in the water.
The National Weather Service dropped a tropical storm watch for Hawaii and Maui counties as Guillermo continued to weaken Wednesday.
Rain ahead of the storm began falling over the islands and possibly heavy showers are expected through Friday.
On its current track, Guillermo is expected Thursday morning to pass 90 miles north-northeast of Maui, forecasters from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said.
With maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, the storm was centered 210 miles northeast of Hilo and 300 miles east of Honolulu at 8 p.m. Wednesday. It was churning west near 10 mph.
Tropical storm-force winds extend 175 miles from the center.
“Showers over the main Hawaiian Islands have become heavier and more numerous as clouds on the southwest fringe of Guillermo have spread across the area. The weather over the islands will be dependent on the track Guillermo follows, but moisture from Guillermo is likely to remain over the islands through Friday,” forecasters said.
Rain of 1 to 3 inches is forecast for Hawaii and Maui counties, with 7 inches falling in upper elevations.
The flash flood watch for all islands was canceled, but a tropical storm watch for waters north of Kauai, Oahu and Maui County remained in effect.
The Division of State Parks closed Waianapanapa State Park on Maui on Wednesday morning due to dangerous high surf from Guillermo. People were urged to stay clear of the blow hole and black sand beach and coastline areas, officials said.
On Kauai, the Kalalau Trail to Hanakapiai Stream in the Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park on the island’s north shore was closed due to a flash flood watch and the potential for heavy rain, state officials said Wednesday.
During recent storms, dozens of people have had to be rescued after being stranded on the wrong side of the stream during flash floods. The parks division advised the public to stay off the trail until the storm has passed.
Guillermo should make its closest pass to Oahu on Thursday night and Kauai on Friday as the storm weakens to a tropical depression, which means the winds will drop below 39 mph, but rain could still be a factor.
Forecasters are still watching the storm closely with hurricane hunter planes flying through its center to determine whether more watches or warnings are issued.
Muggy and moist weather from Guillermo could stick around through Saturday. Sunday should see a return of the usual tradewind weather, forecasters said.
Forecasters are watching another potential storm forming in the East Pacific about 1,695 miles southeast of Hilo. Tropical Depression 10-E, forecast to strengthen to a tropical storm by Thursday night, could also pass close enough to Hawaii to affect the islands’ weather late next week.
