Hurricane Hector stronger but still days away

Hurricane Hector, the first major storm of the 2018 Central Pacific hurricane season, intensified Thursday but is still a week or so away from any potential impact on local weather.

As of 4:50 p.m. the Category 2 hurricane was still in the Eastern North Pacific zone some 1,900 miles east-southeast of Hilo, moving westward at 13 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds of 11 mph.

For all of its gathering power, Hector is considered a relatively small storm. Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 15 miles from the center; tropical storm-force winds extended up to 70 miles.

After nearly a full day of rapid intensification, Hurricane Hector stabilized somewhat early Thursday evening with satellite imagery indicating that its eye had become filled with clouds. Still, the storm is expected to strengthen into a Category 3 major hurricane (111 to 129 mph, according to the Saffir- Simpson scale) by Saturday. Forecasters believe it will enter the Central Pacific sometime Sunday.

“Hector will continue to intensify, but not as rapidly as it did over the past 24 hours,” Tom Birchard, lead forecaster at the National Weather Service in Honolulu, said Thursday morning.

The current five-day forecast has the storm turning northwest toward Hawaii island by Tuesday.

“The storm is still a little too far out to tell the timing,” said Gavin Shigesato, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service Forecast Office. “The impacts are still one week away.”

In the meantime, forecasters predict that tradewinds will continue through the weekend with clouds and showers over windward and mountain areas. The tradewinds should subside next week as a high-pressure system north of the state weakens.

Hurricane season in the Central Pacific began June 1 and will end Nov. 30. Forecasters earlier predicted that the season would yield three to six tropical cyclones. The yearly average is three to five.

Shigesato said August is typically an active month for storms in the Pacific region.

Last year forecasters anticipating El Nino conditions predicted five to eight tropical cyclones. A weak La Nina instead prevailed, resulting in just one tropical storm and one tropical depression entering the Central Pacific. Neither affected Hawaii weather.

With Hector yet a distant threat, Shigesato said now is a good time for those who have not made preparations for hurricane season to do so.

“You want to be prepared ahead of time,” said Shigesato. “You don’t want to be rushing to pick up supplies Tuesday night.”

The American Red Cross advises residents to have a family disaster plan in place to account for what family members should do and where they should meet in the event of an emergency; ensure access to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration broadcasts via online NOAA radio station, NOAA radio app or battery-powered or hand-cranked NOAA radio; and place insurance policies, documents and other valuables in a safe-deposit box.

Homeowners are advised to protect windows with storm shutters or fitted plywood pieces; secure or store lawn furniture, trash cans and other outdoor items that can be dislodged or thrown by high winds; and clear gutters and other drainage systems to prevent flooding.

The Department of Emergency Management further advises residents to keep a 14-day supply of food and water (about 1 gallon per person per day) at hand. Food should be nonperishable.

Other items to include in an emergency kit are utensils, can opener, radio, batteries, flashlight or other portable light, first aid kit, whistle, dust mask, towelettes, garbage bags, sanitizing gel, toilet paper, gloves, plastic ties, a tool kit, prescription medications and medical devices. Those with babies or pets also should prepare kits for their specific needs, including formula, food and water.