Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Iselle to Impact Hawaii With Rain, Wind and Rough Seas

By Brian Lada, Meteorologist
August 6,2014; 9:03PM,EDT
 
 
Hurricane Iselle is tracking toward Hawaii for the latter and end of the week bringing a high risk of heavy rain, damaging winds and rough seas to the southern part of the island chain, namely the Big Island. A second hurricane, Julio, also bears watching.
AccuWeather meteorologists expect Iselle to gradually weaken over the next couple of days and become a tropical storm as the center of the storm passes over the Big Island. Iselle will be moving into a wedge of cool water and dry air just east of the Hawaiian Islands which is why some weakening is expected.
However, even as a tropical storm, Iselle will still pack a punch. AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bernie Rayno has all of the details in the video below.
Heavy rain, strong winds and building seas and surf will affect the islands during the latter part of the week.

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AccuWeather.com meteorologists are concerned for significant flash flooding, mudslides and damaging wind gusts. Ground access to some communities could be cut off.
"Tropical storm-force winds will cause at least scattered power failures on the islands, including in the City of Honolulu," said Mike Smith, senior vice president of AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions.
Smith stated that based on the current forecast path and strength of Iselle, lengthy power outages are possible on the Big Island (Hawaii). The storm could make landfall on the Big Island by early Friday, local time. Building seas, squalls and rain will precede the storm by 24 hours or more.

"Multiple roads could be washed out on the Big Island, Oahu and Lanai," Smith said.

Inexperienced bathers, boarders and boaters should exercise extreme caution, even as the system weakens while approaching the islands.
Visitors and residents alike should check the conditions throughout the week as the approaching storm may cause rough surf and rip currents.
RELATED:
AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center: Track, Official Advisories
INFOGRAPHIC: Iselle Threatens Hawaii
How Common are Hurricanes in Hawaii?

The Big Island of Hawaii will be the first to feel the impacts from Iselle as the center of the storm is forecast to reach the island Thursday evening, local time.
At present track, the Big Island of Hawaii will take a direct hit from the storm before passing just south of the smaller islands, such as Maui or Oahu.
Due to the projected track of the storm, areas on the eastern portions of the islands will likely feel greater effects than the western sides.
However, if the projected path of the storm shifts, so would the areas expected to feel the highest impacts.
Some portions of the islands that typically receive little rainfall could be hit with flash flooding.
A direct hit on the islands does not have to occur for significant impact as the storm is much larger than a single point of latitude and longitude.
The tropical threat for Hawaii may not end with Iselle. There is potential for impacts from a second tropical system to hit two to three days later. Julio could bring another round of pounding waves, flooding rain and strong winds.
Hurricane Julio is also churning over the eastern Pacific and is forecast to track toward the Hawaiian Islands right on the heels of Iselle, but perhaps on a slightly different trajectory.
AccuWeather meteorologists believe that this storm will approach the chain of islands late in the weekend or early next week. However, the exact track that it will take remains uncertain.
According to Meteorologist Mark Mancuso, "Julio will be passing over waters churned up and cooled by Iselle, which argues for weakening after initial strengthening."
Here are some precautions that Smith recommends Hawaiians should take in preparation for Iselle and Julio:
1. Go to the bank or ATM and withdraw plenty of extra cash. 2. Fill your car's fuel tank.
3. Keep cell phones and other electronics charged.
4. If you have a generator, test it before it is needed.
5. Get prescription medications refilled and make provisions for any medicines that must be chilled or that require special handling. Power could be out for more than a week if Julio also strikes.
Keep up to date with the latest on Hurricane Iselle at the AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center.
Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski and Meteorologist Erik Pindrock contributed content to this story.

On Social Media
Ms. Molly 808
gdgolly808
Stay safe Big island & Maui. Stay OFF the roads! If flooding occurs, get to a shelter! Turn Around, Don't Drown! #Iselle #Hawaii
Jeff Baskin
JeffBaskinFOX16
Hurricane #Iselle refuses to weaken as it heads toward the Big Island of Hawaii. Winds still 90 MPH. pic.twitter.com/wJAGY5dIJA
Sarasota County EOC
scgovEOC
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the big Island of Hawaii as they brace for back-to-back storms heading for... fb.m
 

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