It’s Early, But Hurricane Olivia Is Tracking Toward Hawaii
UPDATED: It’s currently a Category 4 storm, although it’s expected to weaken before nearing the islands next week.
(AP) — One hurricane is on course to bypass Hawaii offshore, while another behind it is heading straight for the islands.
The National Weather Service said Thursday that Hurricane Norman’s center will likely pass 200 to 300 miles to the northeast of the main Hawaiian Islands. Meteorologists are warning of high surf, but they don’t expect the storm to directly affect the state.
Norman was packing maximum sustained winds near 100 mph, making it a Category 2 hurricane. Wind shear and cooler ocean temperatures are expected to weaken it over the next few days.
Hurricane Olivia is currently a Category 4 storm 1,300 miles west of Mexico’s Baja California. Meteorologists expect it to weaken as it nears the islands next week, but it’s uncertain by how much.
Meanwhile, Gov. David Ige is asking President Donald Trump to declare a major disaster for Hurricane Lane, which battered the state last month.
Ige said Thursday the state is seeking help from federal grants and other programs to cover the costs of the storm.
Lane flooded homes and schools and triggered landslides as it dumped torrential rains on the Big Island and Kauai. The hurricane’s strong winds fueled wildfires on Maui.
Lane was the nation’s second-rainiest tropical cyclone since 1950. Mountain View on the Big Island recorded 52.02 inches of rain during the storm.
