Trending
Hurricane Olaf is projected to pass northeast of the Hawaiian Islands this week.
This has been the busiest hurricane season in decades, blamed at least partly on a strong El Nino. Hurricane season in the Pacific generally runs from about June 1 to Nov. 30.
While Olaf’s projected path is well east of us, the National Weather Service’s forecast for the next few days is very familiar – scattered showers are predicted for every day through Saturday.
We’d like to remind readers that in addition to preparedness kits at home, pay close attention to weather alerts. In particular, some of these “scattered showers” have turned into downpours in recent weeks, causing flash flooding here last month and flash flooding with mudslides on other islands in the state.
Motorists are especially vulnerable in these flash floods. Many automobile drivers mistakenly think they can plow through these fast-flowing currents, only to see their cars stall and find themselves at the mercy of a torrent of water. A good time to park the car on high ground is anytime you’re notified of a flash flood alert.
Hikers can also quickly find themselves in dangerous situations. Ravines can rapidly become rivers during a downpour. Before hiking in the coming days, check the National Weather Forecast at www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/. You can type in your ZIP code to get specific information for your location.
With as many storms as we’ve had this season, it is easy to become careless – and that can be deadly. Treat Olaf with as much respect as we gave the first round of storms in early summer.
* Editorials reflect the opinion of the publisher.