HONOLULU — The beautiful island chain of Hawaii is bracing for a tropical storm this weekend, as the National Weather Service has issued a tropical storm watch for Hawaii County. The storm, named Tropical Storm Hone, is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain to the Big Island and Maui.
As of Thursday evening, the storm was located about 770 miles east-southeast of Hilo and 980 miles east-southeast of Honolulu, moving west at 14 mph with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. While it may evoke memories of last summer’s powerful hurricane that fueled a deadly wildfire in Maui’s Lahaina town, the weather service assures that Hone is not creating the same conditions.
Hurricane Gilma, located east of Hone, is also moving west across the Pacific, but it is still too early to tell if it will impact the islands. However, residents and visitors on the Big Island and Maui should take precautions as Hone is expected to bring sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts of 50 mph. Oahu and Kauai may also experience slightly weaker winds.
The heaviest rainfall is predicted to hit the Big Island’s east coast and southeastern corner, with 4 to 8 inches expected from Saturday night through Sunday night. Maui may also see 2 to 4 inches of rain. These forecasts may change depending on the storm’s course, so it is important to stay updated.
Last summer’s Lahaina fire was fueled by strong winds from a combination of a hurricane passing to the south and a strong high pressure system to the north. The National Weather Service had issued a red flag warning due to the dangerous combination of warm temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds. However, this weekend’s weather is not expected to be as severe.
National Weather Service meteorologist Laura Farris states that while there are concerns about fire risk, it is not as bad as last year. The pressure system to the north is not as strong and Tropical Storm Hone is not a hurricane like last year’s storm. Pao-Shin Chu, a University of Hawaii professor and the state’s climatologist, also assures that while there may be some similarities to last year’s situation, it will not be as dramatic.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Gilma is currently a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 120 mph. It is slowly moving west and is expected to weaken over the weekend. However, it is still important to monitor the situation.
The cause of last year’s devastating Lahaina blaze, the deadliest in the United States in over a century, is still under investigation. However, it is possible that it was ignited by electrical wires and leaning power poles toppled by the strong winds. In order to reduce the risk of future wildfires, the state’s electric utilities, Hawaiian Electric and Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, have started shutting off power during high winds and dry conditions.
Unfortunately, during last year’s fire, Maui County officials failed to activate outdoor sirens that would have warned residents of the approaching flames. Instead, they relied on social media posts that reached a limited audience. However, Amos Lonokailua-Hewett, the new administrator of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, assures that in the event of a wildfire threat, alerts will be sent through various platforms such as radio, television, cellphones, and outdoor sirens. He also explains that the sirens will sound a steady tone without a message, indicating an imminent threat to public safety and prompting people to seek more information.
As we prepare for the arrival of Tropical Storm Hone and monitor the path of Hurricane Gilma, it is important to stay informed and take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of ourselves and our communities. Let us all work together to minimize the potential impact of this storm and remember to stay positive and hopeful in the face of any challenges that may come our way.
