Hurricane Lane strengthens

[Guest Dwight C]

NASA satellite imagery shows Hurricane Lane in the Central Pacific Ocean southeast of the Hawaiian Islands at 2:01 p.m. local time, Monday, Aug. 20, 2018.

Hurricane Lane strengthens to Category 5, heads toward Hawaii

Hurricane Lane, which is headed toward Hawaii, strengthened on Tuesday to a Category 5 storm, the National Weather Service announced. 

The hurricane could now produce winds 157 mph or above, heavy rain, flash flooding and high surf. The winds are capable of knocking down trees and power poles, the NWS said. The hurricane is about 500 miles southeast of Honolulu as of Wednesday morning. 

NASA satellite imagery shows Hurricane Lane in the Central Pacific Ocean southeast of the Hawaiian Islands Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018

 

Hurricane Lane “is forecast to move dangerously close to the main Hawaiian islands as a hurricane later this week, potentially bringing damaging winds and life-threatening flash flooding from heavy rainfall,” the weather service’s Central Pacific Hurricane Center warned.

Earlier Tuesday, the weather service issued a hurricane warning for Hawaii island and a hurricane watch for Oahu, Maui and other smaller islands, meaning tropical storm-force winds, excessive rain and large swells could arrive starting Wednesday.

The weather service also issued a hurricane watch for Maui and other smaller islands, meaning tropical storm-force winds, excessive rain and large swells could arrive starting Wednesday. It’s possible Oahu and Kauai may later be included in an advisory for the hurricane.

But the hurricane center said the storm will move very close to or over the islands from Thursday through Saturday.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed an emergency proclamation on Tuesday in anticipation of the storm, which would provide relief for disaster damages, losses and suffering as a result of the hurricane.

Hawaii residents rushed to stores to stock up on bottled water, ramen, toilet paper and other supplies. 

Maui County and Big Island schools will be closed starting Wednesday until further notice, the state Department of Education said. All after-school activities statewide are canceled for the rest of the week.

Longtime Hawaii residents recalled a devastating 1992 hurricane as they prepared for Hurricane Lane. 

Kauai resident Mike Miranda was 12 when Hurricane Iniki devastated the island 26 years ago. He said Iniki's turn into the islands was sudden. 

"A lot of people are comparing the similarities between Iniki and Lane," he said. "I remember how very little rain fell. But I remember the wind being the strongest force of nature I've ever witnessed and probably the scariest sounds I've ever heard in my life."  Utility poles were down all over the island, and his 7th-grade classes were held in Army tents for several months.