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Hurricane Lane could be threat; heavy rains likely

Maui expected to begin feeling effects Wednesday

Lane, a Category 4 hurricane as of Monday afternoon, could be a threat to the Hawaiian Islands by midweek with heavy rains expected even if the eye of the hurricane continues on its path to the south and southwest of the islands, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said.

At about 5 p.m. Monday, the hurricane center forecast the eye of Lane to miss the islands, though some models put Maui County in a possible track of the hurricane. Lane was 830 miles southeast of Hilo, moving west at 12 mph. The hurricane is expected to continue moving west Tuesday before turning to the northwest on a path closer to the islands Wednesday.

The hurricane was packing maximum sustained winds of 130 mph. Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 30 miles and tropical storm force winds up to 125 miles from the center.

Some fluctuations in intensity are possible Tuesday into Wednesday morning, though remaining at least Category 3 strength, followed by a gradual weakening, the center said.

Lane was expected to begin impacting Maui County on Wednesday evening, according to the Maui Emergency Management Agency on Monday afternoon. Tropical storm force winds are most likely to impact Maui County at about 8 p.m. Thursday, according to center tracking Monday afternoon.

“Now is the time to get ready,” Mayor Alan Arakawa said. “Anyone who is waiting until the storm hits to prepare will find themselves running around at the last minute and standing in line at the gas stations and grocery stores. So prepare now and avoid being on the road when you should be safe at home.”

Even though the hurricane currently is forecast on a track to miss the islands, the center said that an extremely moist and unstable air mass will move over the islands beginning late Wednesday and remain in place through the end of the week.

“This is expected to result in very heavy rainfall, potentially leading to flash flooding,” the center said, adding that the details on the timing and location of the heavy rain are still uncertain.

Warnings and advisories on the ocean have been posted. There is a high-surf advisory up for east-facing shores of Maui until 6 p.m. Tuesday with a swell expected to arrive Monday night and to build through Tuesday, the National Weather Service said.

Surf is expected to reach 6 to 12 feet. Beachgoers and swimmers should expect strong breaking waves and strong rip currents, the weather service said.

Hurricane warnings have been posted for waters from 46 miles to 276 miles offshore of Hawaii, including a portion of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument east of French Frigate Shoals.

Small-craft advisories are in effect until 6 p.m. Tuesday with northeast winds blowing at 29 mph with higher gusts. Seas are expected to be 6 to 10 feet. The advisory affects Maalaea Bay; Pailolo Channel, between Maui and Molokai; and Alenuihaha Channel, between Maui and Hawaii island.

The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port set port condition Whiskey for Maui County as of 11 a.m. Monday in advance of Lane. This includes Kahului, Kaumalapau and Kaunakakai harbors. Port facilities will be open with restrictions.

All pleasure craft should seek sheltered waters, the Coast Guard said.

To prepare for a storm, the Maui Emergency Management Agency suggests:

≤ Fueling family vehicles.

≤ Storing and securing outdoor items and loose, lightweight objects, such as lawn furniture and garbage cans that may become airborne.

≤ Preparing to cover all window and door openings with boards, shutters or other shielding materials.

≤ Double-checking the family emergency kit, making sure there is adequate water, nonperishable food and medications on hand.

The agency is coordinating readiness activities with county, state, federal and nongovernment partners. The county continues to closely monitor the storm and will announce road, park and school closures, along with shelter openings, as needed, the agency said.

 <*p(00,0,00,10.1,3,0,g)>n Lee Imada can be reached at leeimada@mauinews.com.

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