Tag Archives: Hilo

Powerful Hurricane Lane Prompts Hurricane Watches for Hawaii

A potential threat from powerful Hurricane Lane prompted the Central Pacific Pacific Hurricane Center to issued Hurricane Watches for parts of Hawaii on Tuesday morning.  Hurricane Watches were issued for Hawaii County and Maui County including the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Hurricane Lane was located at latitude 14.1°N and longitude 152.3°W which put it about 620 miles (995 km) southeast of Honolulu, Hawaii.  Lane was moving toward the west at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 150 m.p.h. (240 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 180 m.p.h. (290 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 950 mb.

The circulation of Hurricane Lane is very well organized.  There is a circular eye at the center of circulation and the eye is surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms.  The strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Several bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Lane.  A NOAA P-3 aircraft encountered strong turbulence during a mission into Lane last night and the aircraft will be examined before it flies again.  Storms around the core of the circulation were generating strong upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the hurricane.

Hurricane Lane has a large symmetrical circulation.  Winds to hurricane force extended out about 40 miles (65 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 240 miles (390 km) from the center.  The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane was 31.6.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 13.7 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 45.3.  Those indices indicate that Hurricane Lane was stronger and larger than Hurricane Dennis was when Dennis hit the northern Gulf Coast in 2005.

Hurricane Lane will move through an environment capable of supporting a major hurricane for another 24 to 48 hours.  Lane will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is between 27°C and 28°C.  It will move through an environment where the upper level winds are weak during the next 24 hours and there will be little vertical wind shear during that time period.  An upper level trough west of Hawaii will move closer to Hurricane Lane on Wednesday.  Southwesterly winds on the eastern side of the trough will increase the vertical wind shear.  Hurricane Lane is likely to weaken on Wednesday, but it could weaken slowly.

Hurricane Lane is moving around the western end of a subtropical ridge over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean.  The ridge has been steering Lane toward the west.  Hurricane Lane will turn more toward the northwest when it reaches the end of the ridge.  The upper level trough could steer Lane more toward the north on Thursday and Friday.  Guidance from forecast models has been trending toward a track closer to Hawaii and that prompted the issuance of Hurricane Watches for some of the Hawaiian Islands.

Major Hurricane Lane Churns Southeast of Hawaii

Major Hurricane Lane churned southeast of Hawaii on Monday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Hurricane Lane was located at latitude 13.6°N and longitude 149.1°W which put it about 580 miles (930 km) southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.  Lane was moving toward the west at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 130 m.p.h. (210 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 150 m.p.h. (240 km/h).  Th minimum surface pressure was 964 mb.

There was a circular eye with a diameter of 16 miles (26 km) at the center of Hurricane Lane.  A ring of strong thunderstorms surrounded the eye and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Several bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Lane.  Storms near the core were generating upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the hurricane in all directions.

The circulation of Hurricane Lane was relatively compact.  Winds to hurricane force extended out about 30 miles (50 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 125 miles (205 km) from the center.  The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Lane was 25.1.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 10.3 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 35.4.

Hurricane Lane will move through an environment during the next day or two that will allow it to maintain much of its intensity.  Lane will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C.  It will move through an area where the upper level winds are relatively weak and there will not be a lot of vertical wind shear.  Hurricane Lane could remain a major hurricane for several more days.  An upper level trough will approach the hurricane from the west in 36 to 48 hours.  Stronger southwesterly winds ahead of the trough will increase vertical wind shear and Hurricane Lane will likely weaken later this week.

Hurricane Lane will move south of a subtropical ridge during the next 24 to 36 hours.  The ridge will steer Lane in a general westerly direction.  The upper level trough approaching from the west will turn Hurricane Lane more toward the northwest.  The timing and sharpness of the turn toward the northwest is still uncertain, but Hurricane Lane could move closer to the Hawaiian Islands during the middle of the week.

Lane Intensifies Into a Major Hurricane on Way to Central Pacific

Hurricane Lane intensified into a major hurricane on it way toward the Central Pacific Ocean on Friday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Hurricane Lane was located at latitude 11.8°N and longitude 135.6°W which put it about 1405 miles (2260 km) east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.  Lane was moving toward the west at 16 m.p.h. (26 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 140 m.p.h. (225 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 964 mb.

Hurricane Lane exhibited the structure of a major hurricane on satellite imagery.  There was a circular eye at the center of circulation.  A ring of strong thunderstorms surrounded the eye and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Several spiral bands were revolving around the core of the circulation.  Storms around the core were generating strong upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the hurricane in all directions.  Winds to hurricane force extended out about 25 miles (40 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 100 miles (160 km) from the center.

Hurricane Lane will be moving through an environment favorable for intensification on Saturday.  Lane will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C.  It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there is little vertical wind shear.  Lane is likely to intensify more during the next 24 hours.  If one of the rainbands wraps around the existing eye and eyewall, then an eyewall replacement cycle could cause a weakening of Hurricane Lane.

Hurricane Lane will move south of the subtropical ridge over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean.  The ridge will steer Lane in a general westerly direction during the next few days.  On its anticipated track Hurricane Lane could be southeast of Hawaii in about four days.

Lane Strengthens Into a Hurricane

Former Tropical Storm Lane strengthened into a hurricane on Thursday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Hurricane Lane was located at latitude 11.2°N and longitude 129.8°W which put it about 1780 miles (2865 km) east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.  Lane was moving toward the west-northwest at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 992 mb.

The circulation of Hurricane Lane became much better organized.  A primary rainband wrapped most of the way around the center of circulation and it could become an eyewall.  Several bands of showers and thunderstorms in the southern and eastern parts of the circulation were revolving around the core of Hurricane Lane.  Storms near the core were generating strong upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the hurricane in all directions.  Winds to hurricane force extended out about 20 miles (30 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 60 miles (95 km) from the center.

Hurricane Lane will be moving through an environment that will be favorable for intensification during the next several days.  Lane will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C.  It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Hurricane Lane will intensify during the next 36 to 48 hours and it could intensify rapidly once a well developed eye forms.

Hurricane Lane will move south of the subtropical high over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean.  The high will steer Lane in a general west-northwesterly direction during the next few days.  On its anticipated track Hurricane Lane could be southeast of Hawaii by early next week.

Recon Finds Hurricane Hector Nearly at Category 5

An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter reconnaissance aircraft found on Monday that Hurricane Hector had strengthened to nearly Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Hurricane Hector was located at latitude 15.2°N and longitude 143.1°W which put it about 870 miles (1405 km) east-southeast of South Point, Hawaii.  Hector was moving toward the west at 16 m.p.h. (26 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 155 m.p.h. (250 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 190 m.p.h. (305 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 936 mb.  A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Hawaii County.

Hurricane Hector has a very symmetrical, well formed circulation.  There is a circular eye with a diameter of 19 miles (31 km) at the center of circulation.  The eye is surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Several bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Hector.  Storms near the core were generating well developed upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the hurricane in all directions.

The circulation of Hurricane Hector is compact.  Winds to hurricane force extend out about 35 miles (55 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extend out about 105 miles (170 km) from the center.  The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Hector is 33.3.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 12.1 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 45.4.

Hurricane Hector will remain in its current environment for several more days.  Hector will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 27°C.  It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  If a rainband wraps around the eye and eyewall, then an eyewall replacement cycle could occur.  Eyewall replacement cycles cause weakening at first while the inner eyewall dissipates.  Hurricanes can restrengthen if the outer eyewall starts for move closer to the center of circulation.  Most very powerful hurricanes only stay very intense for 12 to 24 hours before they start to weaken.  If takes a lot of energy to drive an intense hurricane and if Hector moves into an environment that is a little less favorable, then it could weaken.

Hurricane Hector will move south of the subtropical high pressure system over the Eastern and Central North Pacific Ocean.  The subtropical high will steer Hector in a general westerly direction during the next few days.  On its anticipated track Hurricane Hector will be southeast of Hawaii by Wednesday morning.  The core of Hurricane Hector is forecast to pass south of Hawaii, but it could come close enough to cause tropical storm force winds which is the reason for the Tropical Storm Watch.

Hector Strengthens Into a Major Hurricane

Hurricane Hector strengthened to Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale on Friday night which made it a major hurricane.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Hurricane Hector was located at latitude 14.2°N and longitude 130.9°W which put it about 1640 miles (2640 km) east of Hilo, Hawaii.  Hector was moving toward the west at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 140 m.p.h. (225 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 967 mb.

Hurricane Hector strengthened on Friday night despite having a double eyewall structure.  There was a small inner eye surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  A clear ring sometimes called a moat surrounded the inner eyewall.  The moat was surrounded by an outer eyewall that consisted of showers and thunderstorms.  Several other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the concentric eyewalls.  Thunderstorms in the core of Hurricane Hector were generating strong upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the hurricane in all directions.

The circulation of Hurricane Hector was small.  Winds to hurricane force only extended out about 20 miles (30 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force only extended out about 70 miles (110 km) from the center.

Hurricane Hector will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the weekend.  Hector will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is between 27°C and 28°C.  It will move through an area where the upper level winds are weak.  However, the existence of concentric eyewalls means that an eyewall replacement cycle will occur at some time in the future.  The eyewall replacement will cause Hurricane Hector to weaken when the inner eyewall dissipates and the strongest winds are found in the outer eyewall.  Hector could begin to intensify again if the outer eyewall begins to contract closer to the center of circulation.

Hurricane Hector will move south of the subtropical high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean and the high will steer Hector westward during the next few days.  On its anticipated track Hurricane Hector could be southeast of Hawaii in four or five days.