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The National Weather Service canceled a tropical storm warning for Hawaii County on Wednesday as Hurricane Hector passed south of the Big Island.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the hurricane was centered about 325 miles south- southeast of Honolulu and 235 miles south-southwest of Hilo and moving west at 16 mph, according to an update from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.
A high-surf warning remained in effect for the southeast and southwest shores of the Big Island, officials cautioned.
“Swells generated by Hector will bring large and dangerous surf to portions of the main Hawaiian islands into Thursday. Surf heights near 20 feet were reported on the southeast side of the Big Island Wednesday afternoon,” forecasters said.
A high wind advisory remained in effect for the summits of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea.
All roads and highways on the Big Island were open Wednesday, but Punaluu, Whittington and Milolii beach parks remained closed. Officials said they would be reassessing those beach parks for hazards today before determining whether to reopen them.
Early voting stations in Pahoa and Pahala remained closed Wednesday but were to be open today, Hawaii County officials said. The Disaster Recovery Center in Pahoa, which was also closed on Wednesday, was to open today.
Melissa Dye, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, said Hector is continuing on its forecast track.
“It’s still moving west at 16 miles per hour and that’s expected to continue through Thursday,” she said. “Once it gets past the island chain Friday and Saturday, it will start to move northwest gradually and will no longer be a threat to the islands.”
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from Hector’s center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles.
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