Weakening Barbara expected to reach Maui on Sunday
County, Coast Guard officials say rain expected, make preparations
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A weakening Barbara, which may become a post-tropical storm, continued to move closer to Hawaii on Friday evening with Maui County and Coast Guard officials advising people to make preparations for Sunday evening arrival.
At 5 p.m. Friday, Tropical Storm Barbara packed maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and was moving west at 14 mph, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said. The tropical storm was 1,325 miles east of Kahului and "fading fast," the hurricane center said Friday afternoon.
Although diminishing, moisture associated with the remnants of the tropical storm will pass over the island chain beginning Sunday night, the National Weather Service said. This will bring breezy conditions and periods of wet weather mainly to windward areas.
Maui County spokesman Chris Sugidono said Friday that the effects of the storm would be felt Sunday and into the middle of next week in the county. The weather service estimates 2 to 4 inches of rain, primarily for East Maui, with 1 to 3 inches across the rest of the county. Surf is expected to reach 8 to 12 feet for east-facing shores on Maui and Molokai, with 15 to 30 mph winds.
Residents and visitors should be prepared for potential flash flooding and high surf and should assemble or check their emergency kits, Sugidono said.
Residents also are asked to conserve water during heavy rain and high wind events, which can cause power outages affecting the county's water treatment and distribution operations, he said.
The Maui Emergency Management Agency continues to track the storm, and will keep the public informed of any changes, he said. The public was strongly encouraged to sign up to receive emergency alerts through Maka'ala at mauicounty.gov/emergency.
The Coast Guard in Honolulu reminded waterway users and beachgoers Friday to exercise caution even as Barbara -- the first named storm of the hurricane season -- weakens. Nearly 90 percent of deaths from hurricanes are from storm surges, high surf and inland flooding, the Coast Guard said.