The first hurricane this season in the Central Pacific approached Hawaii on Sunday, threatening to bring strong winds, rain, and storm surges to the islands.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami said Hurricane Douglas is accumulating maximum sustained winds of 90 mph, a Category 1 storm, and is moving west-northwest at 16 mph.
The storm located is about 240 miles east of Kahului, Hawaii.
HURRICANE DOUGLAS BECOMES A CATEGORY 3 MAIN STORM, MAY BRING STRONG WINDS AND RAIN TO HAWAII
A hurricane warning is in effect for the islands of Kauai and Niihau, as well as for Oahu, home to the state’s largest city, Honolulu, with the storm starting to impact the island as early as late in the morning.
Hurricane Douglas seen on Sunday, July 26, 2020.
(NOAA / GOES-East)
Big Island and Maui were under tropical storm warnings.
“On the forecast track, Douglas will pass dangerously close to the main Hawaiian Islands on Sunday,” the CNH said.
Douglas weakened to a category 1 hurricane on Saturday as it was approaching Hawaii, but authorities cautioned that people should not be fooled.
“We know it is weakening as it gets closer, but it will still have a significant impact on each island,” Hawaii Governor David Ige said at a press conference.
The NHC warned that in addition to strong winds, a storm surge of up to 3 feet above normal tides is possible, as well as large waves and heavy rain. Up to 5 to 10 inches of rain is possible from Maui west to Kauai, with the greatest threat on higher ground, which could lead to flash floods and landslides.
A surfer leaves the water in Honolulu on Saturday, July 25, 2020, when Hurricane Douglas is approaching.
(AP Photo / Caleb Jones)
“Douglas continues a gradual, slow and weakening trend, which in itself is good news, but the bad news is that this hurricane will get very close to the islands even as it weakens,” said Robert Ballard, a scientist and operations. officer at the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. “And we expect significant impacts as it makes its closest approach point or possible landing as it passes.”
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Ige said residents should already have their 14-day emergency supply kit, but due to COVID-19, he encouraged people to add masks, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes.
A worker places reinforcements in store windows in Honolulu’s Waikiki neighborhood on Saturday, July 25, 2020, when Hurricane Douglas is approaching.
(AP Photo / Caleb Jones)
On Oahu, 13 shelters will be open at 9 am on Sunday, long before the hurricane hitting the island, from noon to night.
People must wear face shields to be admitted and must wear them unless they are eating, drinking, or sleeping.
A worker places reinforcements in store windows in Honolulu’s Waikiki neighborhood on Saturday, July 25, 2020, when Hurricane Douglas is approaching.
(AP Photo / Caleb Jones)
Diane Peters-Nguyen with the Red Cross told KHON2 that all shelter staff will undergo coronavirus screening and said cleanup practices are in place.
“With any of the high-traffic areas at the shelter, they will do additional cleaning to make sure you know there is no contamination,” he said.
A woman walks in front of shop windows in the Waikiki neighborhood of Honolulu on Saturday, July 25, 2020, when Hurricane Douglas is approaching.
(AP Photo / Caleb Jones)
State health department officials contacted each of the 625 people who were currently in isolation or quarantined as of Friday because they are COVID-19 positive or have been in contact with someone who is. All indicated that they would take refuge on the spot and would not seek refuge in a hurricane shelter.
“That gives a sigh of relief,” said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell.
Hawaii has one of the lowest coronavirus infection rates in the nation, but COVID-19 numbers have increased in recent weeks.
“If there is a problem, we have alternative accommodation for those people, so [those seeking shelter] You should feel good about the fact that they are not going to mix with known cases, “State Health Director Dr. Bruce Anderson said Saturday.
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President Trump issued an emergency declaration for Hawaii due to the hurricane, ordering federal assistance to complement state and local response efforts.
Hawaiian Airlines canceled all Sunday flights between Hawaii and the US mainland and also between the other islands.
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Residents of all the islands were preparing for the worst. Maui resident Joshua Fernández was busy boarding his grandmother’s house.
“This is really the second time. All the other hurricanes he said, he really didn’t care, ”he told KHON2. “It’s kind of scary because this is the first time we could be hit by a hurricane.”
A rower sits in front of Waikiki Beach in Honolulu on Saturday, July 25, 2020, when Hurricane Douglas is approaching.
(AP Photo / Caleb Jones)
In 2018, the huge and powerful Hurricane Lane took a last-minute turn and narrowly saved Oahu, the most populous island in Hawaii. The last major hurricane to hit the state was Hurricane Iniki in 1992, which struck Kauai and caused massive damage across the island.
Kahului resident Eddie Perrells, who experienced Hurricane Iniki when it hit Kauai, said he made sure to get enough supplies, ship, and make sure everything is tied up outside.
“Anything can happen,” he told Hawaii News Now. “The neighbor’s stuff can blow up in my yard and break my window. I just want to make sure my family is protected.”
Associated Press contributed to this report.
