Lane hits Hawaii: Tens of thousands without power, fears of deadly flooding
The storm strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane and approached the Big Island with winds of about 120 km/h. Nearly 24,000 people were left without power, roads and airports were closed, and residents were evacuated to shelters. Up to 635 mm of rain may fall. If the hurricane's center makes landfall, it could be a historic hit for the island.
Hurricane Lane strengthened on Saturday into a Category 1 storm and began hitting the Big Island of Hawaii with heavy rains, strong winds, and local flooding. Nearly 24,000 people were left without power, roads were blocked, airports and parks were closed, and more than 130 residents were evacuated to shelters. Authorities warned of life-threatening flash floods and mudslides, urging residents to stay in their homes.
According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center, Lane strengthened with sustained winds of about 120 km/h and was located about 105 km south-southeast of the southern tip of the Big Island. The storm moved northwest at a speed of about 13 km/h, but slowed down and changed its path as it began to interact with the island's mountainous terrain. Forecasters warned that its movement might be erratic.
It remains unclear whether the center of the storm will make direct landfall on the island. According to the AP news agency, such a hit could be the first for a hurricane on the Big Island in about 155 years. However, even if the center of Lane passes south of the island, its rain bands and strong winds are expected to cause significant damage.
The main threat is the unusual amount of rainfall. On the Big Island and Maui, between 200 and 300 mm are expected, and in some areas of the Big Island, the amount could reach about 635 mm. The storm's outer rain bands have already dropped between 75 and 125 mm within six hours in some areas, with precipitation rates reaching about 50 mm per hour in some places.
According to local reports, nearly 24,000 residents were left without power, mainly due to trees and debris falling on infrastructure. The local electric company warned that restoration work might be stopped if weather conditions become too dangerous. At the summit of Mauna Kea, an unusual wind gust of about 225 km/h was measured.
The winds and rains caused road blockages due to flooding, landslides, rocks, trees, and fallen power lines. Public transportation on the Big Island was stopped, and all parks and beaches were closed. International airports in Hilo and Kona were closed, and dozens of flights were canceled or delayed. According to Reuters, commercial ports on the Big Island, Maui, and Kauai were also closed.
Authorities opened emergency shelters in all nine districts of the Big Island, and more than 130 residents are already staying in them, most of them from the Puna area. Due to widespread power outages, residents were asked to reduce water consumption and use it only for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green declared a state of emergency even before the storm arrived. A hurricane warning was issued for the Big Island, and tropical storm warnings apply to Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, and Kauai. In addition to the floods, authorities are warning of dangerous waves, strong currents, and coastal flooding. On the Big Island, water levels could rise 30 to 90 cm above ground level in prone areas.
After passing near the Big Island, Lane is expected to turn west and move south of the rest of the islands during Sunday. It may strengthen slightly in the short term, but is expected to weaken significantly following its encounter with the island's mountainous terrain.
