Hurricane Watch Issued for Big Island East
The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a Hurricane Watch for the Big Island East area, affecting locations including Hilo, Pahoa, and Volcano. Efforts to protect life and property should now be underway.
According to the NWS Honolulu HI advisory issued on September 24 at 4:54 AM HST, the local forecast indicates equivalent tropical storm force winds. The peak wind forecast calls for 30 to 40 mph with gusts reaching up to 60 mph, while the potential for winds between 58 and 73 mph remains due to forecast uncertainty.
The window for tropical storm force winds is projected to begin Friday afternoon and last until Saturday evening. The wind threat has remained nearly steady from the previous assessment, and residents are advised to plan for dangerous winds of equivalent strong tropical storm force.
Potential impacts include significant damage to roofing, siding, porches, awnings, carports, and sheds, along with possible window, door, and garage door failures. Unanchored mobile homes may sustain damage, and unsecured lightweight objects could become dangerous projectiles.
Additional hazards include several large trees snapped or uprooted, blown-over fences and roadway signs, and impassable roads and bridges due to large debris. Scattered power and communications outages are expected, alongside localized storm surge.