Hurricane Lester continues to push toward a brush of the Hawaiian Islands in less than 24 hours, possibly as a hurricane, over part of the Labor Day holiday weekend.
A hurricane watch remains for most of Hawaiian Islands, with the exception of Kauai and Hawaii.
Watches and Warnings
Here's the latest on Lester:
- Hurricane Lester was located just over 270 miles east-northeast of Hilo, Hawaii, as of Friday evening local time.
- Lester is moving west-northwest, and will continue on this trajectory through Saturday, before a curl toward the northwest takes place after passing Oahu to the north.
- This track will bring the center of Lester north of the Hawaiian Islands Saturday, before departing the islands Sunday.
- Gradual weakening is expected over the next couple of days, as increasing wind shear and cooler water take their toll.
- That said, Lester could still be at least a Category 1 hurricane near or north of the Hawaiian Islands Saturday into early Sunday.
- Winds of 74 mph or greater are possible for Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe during that time, especially on the higher peaks and in the channels between islands.
- Bands of locally heavy rain with the passage of Lester could trigger flooding, particularly in mauka (mountain) locations from late Friday into Saturday, even well after Lester's center passes by.
- Higher swells from Lester will reach east-facing coastal locations Friday, with high, potentially damaging surf and coastal flooding along east and northeast-facing beaches Saturday, tapering off Sunday.
- Changes in the forecast track and intensity could have important ramifications on impacts.
- Those with interests in the Hawaiian Islands, particularly the eastern Hawaiian Islands, should monitor the progress of Lester.
(MORE: Hurricane Season Outlook | Hurricane Central)
Current Storm Status
Projected Path
History of Lester
Lester became the third major (Category 3 or stronger) hurricane of the eastern Pacific hurricane season early Monday morning. It briefly reached Category 4 intensity, before weakening.
A Hurricane Hunter reconnaissance mission then found Lester had pulsed back to Category 3 status
late Thursday night in what was expected to be its last pulse up before
its final weakening phase. By early Friday morning, Lester had weakened
back to a Category 2 hurricane.
Check back with us at weather.com for updates on this system.
No comments:
Post a Comment