A shifty Hilda weakened Tuesday to a tropical storm, and its track moved well to the south of the island throughout the day. ADVERTISING A shifty Hilda weakened Tuesday to a tropical storm, and its track moved well to the
A shifty Hilda weakened Tuesday to a tropical storm, and its track moved well to the south of the island throughout the day.
But even a weakened Hilda could drench the Big Island, with 6 to 12 inches possible and up to 18 inches in isolated portions of the upper windward slopes beginning Wednesday evening. Eight- to 12-foot surf already impacting the Big Island’s east shores was set to peak at 10 to 15 feet on Wednesday.
At 5 a.m. Tuesday, Hilda was a tropical storm 45 mph winds, located 255 miles southeast of the Big Island and crawling northwest at 5 mph. National Weather Service forecasts had the center of Hilda continuing on that westward track and passing about 150 miles south of Ka‘u early Thursday, packing 35 mph winds.
Hilda’s forecast track has shifted steadily south over the past few days, and the “cone of uncertainty” for its path is quite wide.
“The steering winds aren’t that strong, and it is moving slowly,” NWS forecaster Matt Foster said on Tuesday afternoon. “The good news is we see it weakening and being sheared apart by upper level winds.”
Increasing wind shear and drier air were expected to continue weakening Hilda to a remnant low by Friday.
A flash flood watch is in effect for the entire island from 6 p.m. Wednesday until Saturday morning, with the potential for torrential rain, mud and rock slides, and hazardous driving.
“The upper, windward and southeast slopes will get hit the hardest, but most of the island will get rain,” Foster said.
A tropical storm watch remained in effect for Hawaii County .
The National Weather Service has issued a hurricane warning for offshore waters around the island chain. A high surf warning persists until 6 a.m. Wednesday and will likely be extended into Thursday, Foster said.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park announced it will close its back-country, campgrounds and upper Mauna Loa Road on Wednesday at 5 p.m. The 43rd annual Hookuikahi Establishment Day Hawaiian Cultural Festival scheduled to be held over the weekend at Puukohola Heiau was canceled due to the coming weather.
At KTA Super Stores on Puainako Street in Hilo, it was business as usual ahead of Hilda on Tuesday morning — no sudden rushes for water, toilet paper or rice.
“I think a lot of people are prepared already,” said store manager Chris Behle. “Iselle shook us up really good.”
Hawaii County Civil Defense has done an amazing job getting out more information quicker on weather threats, Behle said.
“There’s so much more information about where it is going and what is happening,” Behle said. “I feel really safe in knowing what is going on.”
Elsewhere, forecasters were monitoring a low pressure area about 1,450 miles west-southeast of the tip of the Baja California peninsula. The chances of the system forming further are around 30 percent.
