Hurricane Lane edged closer to Hawaii on Friday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Hurricane Lane was located at latitude 19.1°N and longitude 157.9°W which put it about 150 miles (245 km) south of Honolulu, Hawaii. Lane was moving toward the north at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 966 mb.
Hurricane Warnings were in effect for Oahu and Maui County including the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe. A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for Hawaii County. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for Kauai County including Kauai and Niihau. Flash Flood Watches were in effect for all Hawaiian Islands.
Hurricane Lane weakened gradually on Friday. There was no longer an eye at the center of circulation. The strongest thunderstorms were occurring in a band northwest of the center. The strongest winds and heaviest rain were occurring in that band of storms. Other rainbands in the northern half of the circulation were revolving around the center of Hurricane Lane. The bands in the southern half of the circulation were weaker and they consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to hurricane force extended out about 35 miles from the center of circulation, primarily on the northern side of Lane. Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 140 miles (225 km) from the center.
Hurricane Lane will continue to weaken on Saturday. An upper level trough west of the Hawaiian Islands is producing strong southwesterly winds which were causing significant vertical wind shear. Those winds were tilting the circulation toward the northeast and they were inhibiting upper level divergence to the west of the hurricane. The slow movement of Hurricane Lane is allowing the wind to mix cooler water to the surface of the ocean. Significant vertical wind shear and cooler water will cause Lane to weaken. If the upper level winds become strong enough, there is the chance that they could blow the upper part of the circulation away from the lower level circulation.
The upper level trough will push Hurricane Lane slowly toward the north during the next 12 to 24 hours. On its anticipated track Hurricane Lane will get closer to Maui and Oahu. When most of the stronger, taller thunderstorms weaken, then Lane will be steered more by the winds in the lower levels of the atmosphere. Those winds are blowing from east to west and they are forecast to Lane toward the west just before the center reaches Oahu and Maui. Although Hurricane Lane will cause gusty winds, locally heavy rain and flash floods are the greatest risks. Heavy rain has already fallen on the Big Island of Hawaii and Flash Flood Watches have been issued for all of the Hawaiian Islands.