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Calvin now a post-tropical cyclone as it passes far south of Hawaii

COURTESY CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER
                                The five-day forecast track for Calvin as of 11 a.m. today.

COURTESY CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER

The five-day forecast track for Calvin as of 11 a.m. today.

UPDATE: 5:16 p.m.

All watches, warnings and advisories from earlier today have expired except for a small craft advisory, which is in effect until 6 p.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

“The remnants of former Tropical Cyclone Calvin, currently a couple hundred nautical miles southwest of Honolulu, will move westward, exiting the offshore waters late tonight. Wind speeds will continue to lower through Thursday as we return to a more typical trade wind pattern through the weekend,” forecasters said.

Expect east winds of 15 to 25 knots with higher gusts and seas of 6 to 11 feet affecting:

>> Northwest, windward, leeward waters of Kauai;

>> Kauai Channel;

>> Windward and leeward waters of Oahu;

>> Kaiwi Channel;

>> Windward and leeward waters of Maui County; and windward waters of Big Island.

Expect winds of 20 to 30 knots with higher gusts, except north winds in Maalaea Bay, and seas of 6 to 11 feet affecting:

>> Maalaea Bay;

>> Pailolo Channel;

>> Alenuihaha Channel;

>> Leeward and southeast waters of Big Island.

“Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions,” forecasters said.

12:30 p.m.

Tropical Storm Calvin came and went without causing any significant damage, Gov. Josh Green and Hawaii island Mayor Mitch Roth said at a news conference today.

“I am pleased to report that there were no significant incidents reported, only minor flooding in typically flood-prone areas,” Roth said, speaking from the Big Island.

There were reports of fallen tree branches and heavy winds in some areas, Roth said. “But no major damages have been reported.”

Despite the non-event, Green said the extensive preparations for Calvin were worthwhile because the busier part of the hurricane season is yet to arrive.

“It’s nice to have a dry run,” he said, “Though it was a bit damp in many parts of the Big Island, it proved to be pretty dry for us statewide.”

National Weather Service warning coordination meteorologist John Bravender said that while Calvin is now a post-tropical cyclone, a wind advisory and flood watch remain in effect for the state.

“Conditions are improving but we could still see wind gusts, tree branches down and heavy rains,” he said.

10:45 a.m.

A tropical storm warning has been canceled for Hawaii County as Calvin has weakened into a post-tropical cyclone as it moves further away from the Hawaiian Islands.

At 11 a.m., Calvin was located about 255 miles west-southwest of Hilo and about 240 miles south of Honolulu, moving west at 20 mph. Calvin, which is packing maximum sustained winds near 40 mph with higher gusts, is expected to continue in this motion and weaken until it dissipates late Thursday.

Central Pacific Hurricane Center said it will not issue any further public advisories on Calvin as all tropical storm warnings and watches have been canceled. Tropical storm conditions have ended for Hawaii, but gusty winds will likely continue today before easing tonight, forecasters said.

A wind advisory is in effect until 6 p.m. today for all islands due to strong and gusty winds in areas over and downwind of island mountains. Expect northeast winds of 30 to 35 mph with gusts around 50 mph for portions of Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe, according to the National Weather Service.

As Calvin moves away from Hawaii, forecasters said additional rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are possible on Hawaii island, with up to 2 inches possible for other smaller islands. Flooding conditions are occurring on the Big Island, where over 6 inches of rain has fallen over the windward and southeastern slopes.

“Trades will usher in scattered showers focused over windward areas, occasionally spilling over to leeward sides of the islands. A Flood Watch remains in effect through this afternoon with additional rainfall expected up to 2 inches maximum statewide,” forecasters said.

A high surf advisory is still in effect through this afternoon for the east-facing shores of Oahu, Big Island Kauai, Molokai and Maui, according to the National Weather Service. “The threat of coastal impacts from surf and storm surge will lower quickly this afternoon for all areas,” forecasters said.

8:20 a.m.

Tropical Storm Calvin, with maximum sustained winds near 45 mph and high gusts, continues on a westerly track, as it moves away from Hawaii island and well south of the other islands.

At 8 a.m., Calvin was centered 205 miles southwest of Hilo and 235 miles south of Honolulu, moving west at 20 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center’s latest update. Tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 125 miles from the center.

Hawaii island remains under a tropical storm warning this morning, but no major damage has been immediately reported from the island, which saw heavy rain and high winds overnight.

A landslide closed Old Mamalahoa Highway in Ookala on Hawaii island this morning, state Department of Transportation officials said. The highway is a county road for the Ookala Homestead Community, DOT officials tweeted at about 7:20 a.m.

The National Weather Service has posted a host of other warnings and advisories for the state this morning, including:

>> Flood advisories for Hawaii island until 11:15 a.m., and for Maui County until 10:15 a.m. Oahu is no longer covered by a flood advisory.

>> A flash flood warning for parts of Hawaii island until 9:15 a.m. “At 6:23 a.m., radar indicated persistent rainfall along the slopes of the Kau District. Hawaii County Civil Defense reported that Wood Valley Road has been closed due to flooding. Flooding is also expected to close the Hawaii Belt Road in the Kawa Flats area near Punaluu, and Kaalaiki Road near Pahala. Rainfall will continue over the Kau District through the morning.” The warning covers Wood Valley, Pahala, Punaluu Beach, Kawa Flats, Naalehu, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Waiohinu, Hawaii Volcanoes Park Kahuku Unit and Discovery Harbor.

>> A high wind warning for Maui County until 6 p.m. with east winds up to 45 mph and localized gusts around 60 mph;

>> A high wind advisory for Kauai and Oahu until 6 p.m. with northeast winds up to 35 mph with gusts around 50 mph;

>> A high surf warning for the east shores of Hawaii island, Maui and Molokai, and a high surf advisory for the east shores of Oahu and Kauai until 6 p.m.

>> And a flood watch for the entire state through this afternoon.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

Tropical Storm Calvin passed south of Hawaii island overnight and is expected to weaken throughout today as it moves west on a track hundreds of miles south of the other islands, forecasters said.

As of 5 a.m., Calvin had maximum sustained winds near 45 mph with higher gusts, and was located about 175 miles southwest of Hilo and 250 miles south-southeast of Honolulu, moving west at 20 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 125 miles from the center. Weakening is forecast through the next 48 hours, when Calvin is forecast to become a post-tropical remnant low as it moves away from the state, forecasters said.

Hawaii island remains under a tropical storm warning through late this morning with winds of 35-45 mph and gusts to 65 mph possible for some areas. There were no immediate reports of major storm damage on the island as of this morning.

“Calvin has almost completed its passage south of Hawaii County,” CPHC said. “Expect periods of flash flooding, dangerous surf and damaging winds. Calvin will continue to weaken as it moves westward to the south of the other Hawaiian islands today and tonight, bringing the potential for some peripheral impacts.”

Total rainfall amounts through Thursday are forecast to be 4-8 inches, with maximum amounts of 10 inches possible, mainly along the windward slopes and southeast flank of the Big Island; 3-6 inches for the windward areas of Maui; and 2-4 inches elsewhere in the state. “This rainfall could lead to localized flash flooding and mudslides,” officials said.

The National Weather Service has posted a host of other warnings and advisories for the state this morning, including:

>> A flash flood warning for parts of Hawaii island until 9:15 a.m.. “At 6:23 a.m., radar indicated persistent rainfall along the slopes of the Kau District. Hawaii County Civil Defense reported that Wood Valley Road has been closed due to flooding. Flooding is also expected to close the Hawaii Belt Road in the Kawa Flats area near Punaluu, and Kaalaiki Road near Pahala. Rainfall will continue over the Kau District through the morning.” The warning covers Wood Valley, Pahala, Punaluu Beach, Kawa Flats, Naalehu, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Waiohinu, Hawaii Volcanoes Park Kahuku Unit and Discovery Harbor.

>> Flood advisories for Oahu, Maui County and Hawaii island this morning;

>> A high wind warning for Maui County until 6 p.m. with east winds up to 45 mph an localized gusts around 60 mph;

>> A high wind advisory Kauai and Oahu until 6 p.m. with northeast winds up to 35 mph with gusts around 50 mph;

>> A high surf warning for east shores of Hawaii island, Maui and Molokai, and a high surf advisory for east shores of Oahu and Kauai until 6 p.m.

>> And a flood watch for the entire state through this afternoon.

>> RELATED STORIES:

Big Island schools, parks, more to close as Calvin nears

Hawaiian Airlines offers Big Island travel waiver due to Calvin

According to the NWS, as of 5:45 a.m., up to 6 inches of rain or more fell on parts of Hawaii island, including 6.22 inches at Honolii Stream, 5.82 inches at Saddle Quarry and 2.19 inches at Hilo Airport. Sustained winds of 55 mph with a peak gust of 70 mph were observed at the summit of Mauna Kea Tuesday afternoon, the weather service said.

“Bands of heavy rainfall will continue to move ashore and impact portions of the Big Island through the early morning hours, especially for the southeast-facing slopes of the Kau district. Rainfall totals overnight have reached the 4 to 6-inch range on the Big Island and an additional 2 to 4 inches remain possible as Calvin begins to move away,” forecasters said early this morning.

Similar conditions are expected across the smaller islands today as Calvin passes far to the south, they said.

In addition, forecasters predict damaging winds “through the first half of the day for the Big Island and Maui County, which could lead to power outages, downed trees and power lines, potentially leading to impassable roads. Advisory-level winds are anticipated for Oahu and Kauai, with the strongest winds occurring over and downwind of terrain.” PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

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