A U.S. Air Force hurricane hunter aircraft is currently en route to Tropical Storm Hone. The goal is to bring back valuable information about the storm’s intensity, structure and size, which will give meteorologists on the ground a better idea of what the tropical cyclone is doing.
The hurricane hunters will return later this morning with the data in hand.
Hone was located about 620 miles east-southeast of Hilo and 640 miles east-southeast of South Point at 5:20 a.m. this morning, moving west at 16 mph with sustained winds of 45 mph.
The latest detail to emerge overnight is that Hone is expected to briefly strengthen into a hurricane after passing the Big Island early next week.
Otherwise, the outlook remains largely the same since yesterday evening.
In anticipation of Hone’s arrival, a tropical storm warning was issued for the Big Island last night. Tropical storm-force winds extended up to 90 miles from the center of the storm this morning.
A flood warning is also in effect for the island from Saturday to Monday evening, as large amounts of moisture from the raging tropical cyclone are expected to spread over the island from Saturday afternoon.
Hone is expected to gradually strengthen over the next few days.
The latest forecast continues to show that it is a strong tropical storm, with its center located near or just south of the Big Island sometime during the night from Saturday to Sunday.
Once the storm passes the Big Island, it is forecast to intensify further, reaching hurricane strength late Sunday night into Monday as it moves south of Kaua’i and O’ahu.
By early Tuesday, it will weaken again to a tropical storm as it moves westward away from the state.
Winds associated with Hone will increase across the Big Island on Saturday and could become locally destructive by nightfall. Tropical storm conditions with sustained winds in excess of 39 mph are possible Saturday night into Sunday.
The strongest winds are expected over the inselbergs, through passes, and down from higher terrain, including areas such as the Humuʻula Saddle, the Waimea Saddle, the leeward area of Kohala, and South Point.
Persistent rainbands within deep tropical moisture on the north side of Hone could bring excessive rainfall and flash flooding to portions of the Big Island starting Saturday afternoon into Sunday.
Hāmākua, Hilo, Puna and Kaʻū appear to have the highest risk for flash flooding. Some heavy rain and thunderstorms could persist over the leeward and uphill parts of the Big Island through Monday.
The waves associated with Hone are expected to bring high waves and strong, life-threatening currents along the east and southeast coasts of the island from Saturday evening into Sunday. Watch for subsequent high wave warnings or advisories that may be issued.
The seaports in Hilo and Kailua-Kona have been placed on Whiskey status due to the expectation of sustained gusts from Tropical Storm Hone, which may arrive in the next few days.
The U.S. Coast Guard urges the maritime community to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions as Hone approaches the state.
The ports are open to all commercial traffic and transshipment operations can continue during the whiskey season. Other regulations are:
- All recreational boats must stay in protected waters.
- All ocean-going commercial vessels and barges must make plans to leave the port area unless they have a clearance from the U.S. Coast Guard Harbor Master and the Hawaii Department of Transportation Port Division.
- Merchant vessels must complete their cargo operations and leave port within 60 hours of the establishment of the Whiskey condition.
- Vessels wishing to remain in port must submit a written safe docking plan to the harbor master and the state port authority to obtain approval.
Requests to remain in port can be found here. All requests should be emailed to [email protected] and the appropriate Harbors Division District. For more information, see Appendix D of the Sector Honolulu Severe Weather, Hurricane, and Tsunami Plan.
Ships circumnavigating the Hawaiian Islands should seek sheltered waters until the storm subsides and expect port closures.
If the port is in Yankee condition or gale force winds are forecast within 24 hours, the port will be closed to incoming traffic without the express permission of the Harbor Master.
The Coast Guard advises the public of these important safety messages:
- Stay away from the water. Coast Guard search and rescue capabilities diminish as storms increase in intensity. Assistance may be delayed. Boaters should heed weather reports, warnings and small craft advisories.
- Secure your property. Owners of large boats are urged to bring their vessels into inland ports where they are less likely to become dislodged from their moorings or damaged. Trailerable boats should be pulled out of the water and stored in a location not at risk of flooding. Those who leave their boat in the water are reminded to update their transmitter registration and securely attach all equipment to their vessel before a severe storm. Do not force a search for “people” who do not exist just because your equipment, which was not properly secured, fell off your boat.
- Stay away from beaches. Wave heights and currents usually increase before a storm makes landfall. Even the best swimmers can fall victim to the strong waves and currents caused by tropical storms and hurricanes. Stay away from beaches until lifeguards and police say the water is safe.
- Stay informed. Follow the storm’s path and intensity on local television, radio and the Internet. Boaters can follow the storm’s path via small craft advisories and warnings on VHF-FM Channel 16.
The next update on Tropical Storm Hone will be issued around noon or earlier if conditions warrant.
Stay tuned for more information on the storm when the next update is posted on Big Island Now. Check the site Saturday morning for tropical storm and hurricane preparedness tips.
The islands will get a break when Hone finally marches west. But there is a small caveat.
“A brief return of moderate to breeze trade winds is expected late Monday into Wednesday of next week as Hone moves away from the state and Tropical Cyclone Gilma approaches the region from the east,” the National Weather Service said in its 5:02 a.m. summary for the Hawaii area.
Gilma is a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). As of 5 a.m., it was located about 1,855 miles east of Hilo and moving west at 5 mph (8 km/h).
The storm is expected to turn to the west-northwest and gain speed over the next few days. It will remain a hurricane through most of the weekend. However, Gilma is expected to weaken over the next few days.
The storm is expected to develop into a tropical depression early Wednesday morning.
