High-surf warning in effect as Erick, Flossie draw closer to Hawaii

UPDATE: 11 p.m.

Hurricane Erick is forecast to weaken to a tropical storm on Thursday as it passes within 150 miles south of the Big Island.

Erick, located about 400 miles southeast of Hilo and 610 miles southeast of Honolulu, is moving toward the west-northwest near 12 mph, with winds near 90 mph.

Moderate to breezy trades will hold overnight into Thursday, then increase through Saturday as Erick passes south of the state, weather officials said tonight.

In addition to the windy conditions, there will be an increase in rain beginning over the eastern portion of the state, which will bring large surf to the islands. A high-surf warning remains in effect for the east-facing shores of the Big Island until 6 p.m. Thursday. A hurricane warning and tropical storm warning are also in effect.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles.

Tropical Storm Flossie remains on the forecast track to cross into the central Pacific basin on Friday and could bring additional impacts to the islands.

Flossie, located about 1,675 miles east of Hilo, is moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph, with winds near 65 mph. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles from the center.

5:50 p.m.

Police have closed the intersections of Ahua/Kilihau and Ahua/Awaawaloa in Mapunapuna due to flooding caused by high tides.

Motorists are blocked from entering the intersections to avoid being stalled from the high rising waters.

* UPDATE: Police reopened the intersections just before 8 p.m.

5 p.m.

A high-surf warning is in effect for the east-facing shores of Hawaii island until 6 p.m. Thursday, as two tropical cyclones make their way toward the islands.

A swell generated by Hurricane Erick is forecast to bring rough seas overnight, with high surf rising about 15 to 20 feet.

Hurricane Erick, located about 480 miles southeast of Hilo and 690 miles southeast of Honolulu, has downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane and is forecast to continue to weaken as it approaches the islands from the east.

Periods of heavy rainfall over the windward slopes of Hawaii island can be expected this week, with the highest threat for flash flooding occuring along the southeast and east facing slopes of the island.

“Wet weather will spread from east to west across all islands Thursday into the weekend as Erick passes just south of the state Thursday and Friday,” the National Weather Service reported today.

Erick is moving toward the west near 14 mph, with winds near 105 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Flossie has also weakened and is forecast to enter the central Pacific basin late Friday.

Flossie, located about 1,775 miles east of Hilo, may bring additional weather impacts to the islands early next week.

Flossie is moving toward the west near 16 mph. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 65 mph, and little change in strength is forecast during the next 36 hours. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles from the center.

A flash flood watch continues for Hawaii island from Thursday afternoon through Saturday morning.

11 a.m.

Erick and Flossie continued to weaken today with Flossie weakening to a tropical storm and Erick barely hanging on as a Category 3 hurricane.

Centered about 535 miles southeast of Hilo and 745 miles southeast of Honolulu, Erick is packing maximum sustained winds of 115 mph while moving west-northwest at 14 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

Erick is forecast to slowly weaken during the next 48 hours and continue moving along the same trajectory for the next 48 hours, the CPHC said.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from Erick’s center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles.

Tropical Storm Flossie, meanwhile, is centered about 1,875 miles east of Hilo while packing maximum sustained winds of 70 mph and moving west at 16 mph, according to the CPHC.

Some additional weakening is forecast later today and tonight, but re-strengthening is expected by the end of the week, and Flossie is forecast to become a hurricane again in a couple of days, the CPHC said.

A westward to west-northwestward motion at a similar forward speed is anticipated for the next several days.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles from Flossie’s center.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

Hurricanes Erick and Flossie continued to weaken overnight as they approached the islands. However, they are still expected to bring heavy rains and rough seas.

A flash flood watch is in effect for Hawaii island from Thursday afternoon through Saturday morning.

With its center located about 615 miles southeast of Hilo and 830 miles east-southeast of Honolulu at 5 a.m. today, Erick is still a strong Category 3 hurricane packing maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and moving west at 13 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

Some weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours as Erick is expected to continue on the same trajectory over the same time, the CPHC said.

Hurricane-force winds extend up to 30 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles.

Centered about 1,975 miles east of Hilo at 5 a.m., Hurricane Flossie is packing maximum sustained winds of 75 mph while heading west-northwest at 15 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Flossie is expected to weaken to tropical-storm strength later today. However, re-strengthening is possible later this week, and Flossie is forecast to become a hurricane again in a few days, the NHC said.

A west-northwestward to westward motion is anticipated for the next several days.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.

Weather officials expect deep tropical moisture to move up into the island Thursday as Erick passes just south.

Easterly winds will push the moisture up the windward slopes, producing heavy rainfall. The areas with the highest risk for flash flooding are the southeast and east-facing slopes of the island.

The Hawaiian offshore waters beyond 40 nautical miles out to 240 nautical miles including the portion of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument east of French Frigate Shoals are under a hurricane warning.

Easterly winds of 15 to 25 knots and seas of 6 to 9 feet are expected today with hurricane conditions hitting southeast waters with seas of 10 to 16 feet tonight. For other waters covered by the warning, east to northeast winds of 15 to 30 knots with seas of 8 to 12 feet and scattered thunderstorms tonight.