If it gets back on track, Tropical Storm Hilda will bring a lot of rain and high surf, but not a lot of bluster, to Hawaii island.
“Hilda took a slight wobble to the east, and a slow westward motion is expected to resume tonight (Tuesday) and continue during the next two days,” Central Pacific Hurricane Center meteorologist Norman Hui said Tuesday night.
“The greatest potential of a threat is only for the Big Island,” Hui said, but Maui and possibly Oahu could get some rain as well.
He cautioned, “The forecast might change depending on what Hilda might be doing tonight (Tuesday) or tomorrow (Wednesday). … A system like this, especially moisture, could change. The further north you are, the better off you will be.”
The hurricane center issued a flash flood watch for Hawaii island which is in effect through Saturday morning.
At 8 p.m. Tuesday, Hilda was 280 miles southeast of Hilo and 490 miles southeast of Honolulu, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph with higher gusts. It was heading west at 1 mph. Tropical storm-force winds extended outward up to 85 miles from the center of the storm.
Hilda was downgraded to a tropical storm from a hurricane Tuesday afternoon.
The hurricane center also issued a tropical storm watch for windward, leeward and southeast Hawaii island waters. Tropical storm conditions for these waters could begin Wednesday afternoon.
“These rains could result in life-threatening flash floods and mudslides across portions of the Hawaiian Islands late Wednesday into the weekend,” the hurricane center warned in its 8 p.m. Tuesday forecast.
Hilda could produce up to 18 inches of rainfall along its path and north of its path, the Tuesday night forecast said.
A high-surf warning for the east shores of Hawaii island is in effect until 6 a.m. Thursday, and a high-surf advisory for east shores of Maui is in effect until 6 a.m. Thursday.
Hilda was expected to weaken and stay south of the islands, Hui said. “Windwise on the Big Island, we’re not really forecasting much, for even the Big Island,” he said, predicting winds will be 10 to 15 mph.
On Tuesday the Coast Guard urged extreme caution and advised the public to prepare for severe sea conditions, storm surge and high surf throughout the main Hawaiian Islands prior to Hilda’s arrival.
Mariners should secure their boats and boating equipment, especially on Hawaii island. Owners of large boats are urged to move them to protected marinas where they will be less likely to break free of their moorings or be damaged, the Coast Guard said.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will close all backcountry areas as of 5 p.m. Wednesday until it is safe to reopen them. No backcountry permits will be issued until the park staff reassesses the storm’s impact. Mauna Loa Road from Kipukapuaulu to the Mauna Loa Lookout will close at 5 p.m. Wednesday, as will Namakanipaio Campgrounds and A-frame cabins. Go to nps.gov/havo for updates.
