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Hector is forecast to
remain a major hurricane
as it passes midafternoon Wednesday roughly
150 miles directly south
of Hawaii, with powerful winds and big surf potentially walloping the island.
Hawaii island residents likely will feel tropical storm effects of Hector as early as late Tuesday with winds greater than 55 mph, Central Pacific Hurricane Center
meteorologist Chevy Chevalier said, adding it will be more of a wind rather than
a rain event.
But Chevalier warns they should “stay focused and stay prepared. Just a little shift north could increase the effects dramatically,
especially on the Big Island.”
About 135 Puna residents displaced by the Kilauea
lava flow and living in shelters are bracing for Hector.
They will be moved to
another shelter more
appropriate for a high-wind event if warranted, a Hawaii County Civil Defense
spokeswoman said. The agency is sending out multiple updates every day on the hurricane activity and forecast effects.
Could Hector take a last-minute shift as did Hurricane Iniki, a Category 4 hurricane that landed a powerful punch to Kauai 26 years ago?
Hector headed Monday west-northwesterly at a
16-mph clip. As of 8 p.m. Monday, Hector remained
a Category 4 hurricane,
with 155 mph sustained winds and 680 miles east-southeast of Hilo.
Iniki followed a similar path to Hector — south of the islands, then made a last-minute turn northward and struck Kauai.
The Central Pacific Hurricane Center’s forecasting methods have “improved over the last 25 years,” Chevalier said. “We have high confidence that it’s going
to stay on the forecast track,” noting it had gone a “tad bit more north but not much more.”
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s G4 hurricane hunter plane started Sunday flying around the outside of the storm. Hurricane hunters
in C-130 planes fly into the storm, beginning Monday morning.
All the data collected “equals a better product,” Chevalier said.
A tropical storm watch was in effect Monday for waters south of Hawaii island.
Hawaii County urges all to sign up for emergency notification system alerts at countyofhawaii.bbcportal.com for up-to-date information on conditions and hazards.
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