Tag Archives: Hurricane Douglas

Hurricane Douglas Passes Just North of Hawaii

Hurricane Douglas was passing just to the north of the Hawaiian Islands on Sunday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday night the center of Hurricane Douglas was located at latitude 22.0°N and longitude 157.3°W which put it about 60 miles (95 km) northeast of Honolulu, Hawaii.  Douglas was moving toward the west-northwest at 16 m.p.h. (26 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 989 mb.

Hurricane Warnings were in effect for Oahu, Kauai and Niihau.

The core of Hurricane Douglas exhibited greater organization on Sunday night.  Thunderstorms around the eye at the center of Douglas grew taller as the hurricane moved over warmer water.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core.  Winds to hurricane force extended out about 40 miles (65 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center in the northern half of Hurricane Douglas.  Winds to tropical storm force only extended out about 50 miles (80 km) on the southern side of the circulation.  The stronger winds were remaining north of the Hawaiian Islands.  There were reports of localized minor wind damage on some of the islands.

Hurricane Douglas will move around the south side of a subtropical high pressure system over the North Pacific Ocean.  The high will steer Douglas toward the west-northwest during the next several days.  On its anticipated track the core of Hurricane Douglas will pass north of Oahu.  Scattered minor wind damage could occur on Oahu, Kauai and Niihau.  The southern part of the eyewall could come closer to Kauai and the risk for wind damage is greater there.  Winds blowing uphill could enhance rainfall on Oahu, Kauai and Niihau.  Flash Flood Watches were in effect for those islands.

Hurricane Douglas Prompts Hurricane Warning for Oahu

The approach of Hurricane Douglas prompted the issuance of a Hurricane Warning for Oahu on Saturday afternoon.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Hurricane Douglas was located at latitude 19.5°N and 150.1°W which put it about 325 miles (525 km) east of Hilo, Hawaii.  Douglas was moving toward the west-northwest at 18 m.p.h. (30 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 90 m.p.h. (150 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 110 m.p.h. (175 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 984 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for Oahu.  Hurricane Watches were in effect for Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe.  Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe.  Tropical Storm Watches were in effect for Kauai and Niihau.

Hurricane Douglas weakened gradually on Saturday as it moved over cooler water.  Douglas was moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature was near 25°C.  As a result of the cooler water, thunderstorms did not grow as high in the atmosphere.  There was still an eye at the center of circulation, but breaks began to appear in the ring of storms around the eye.  Most of the stronger thunderstorms were in the northern half of the circulation.  Bands in the southern half of the circulation consisted mainly of showers and lower clouds.   Winds to hurricane force extended out about 30 miles (50 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 110 miles (175 km) from the center.

Hurricane Douglas will move around the southern side of a subtropical high pressure system over the North Pacific Ocean.  The high will steer Douglas toward the west-northwest during the next several days.  On its anticipated track Hurricane Douglas will pass north of the Big Island of Hawaii on Sunday morning.  The core of Douglas could pass near Oahu on Sunday night.

Hurricane Douglas will bring gusty winds to the Hawaiian Islands.  The strongest winds could occur on Oahu.  Winds speeds will be greater at higher elevations.  Douglas could drop heavy rain on the sides of the islands where the wind blows up the slopes.  Flash flooding will be possible.

Hurricane Douglas Prompts Watches for Hawaii

Hurricane Douglas prompted the issuance of Hurricane Watches for some of the Hawaiian Islands on Friday afternoon.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Hurricane Douglas was located at latitude 17.0°N and longitude 143.5°W which put it about 785 miles (1260 km) east of Hilo, Hawaii.  Douglas was moving toward the west-northwest at 18 m.p.h. (30 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 140 m.p.h. (225 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 967 mb.

Hurricane Watches were issued for Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe.

Hurricane Douglas continued on a track toward the Hawaiian Islands on Friday, which prompted the issuance of Hurricane Watches.  Douglas was weakening slowly as it moved over slightly cooler water.  In addition, Hurricane Douglas appeared to go through an eyewall replacement cycle which may have contributed to the weakening.  Even though it had weakened, Douglas remained a powerful, well organized hurricane.  There was a circular eye at the center of circulation.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Douglas.  Storms near the core were generating upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the hurricane.

Winds to hurricane force extended out 25 miles (40 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 120 miles (195 km) from the center of Douglas.  The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Douglas was 20.6.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 9.9 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 30.5.  Hurricane Douglas was capable of causing localized major damage.

Hurricane Douglas will move through an environment less favorable for major hurricanes during the next several days.  Douglas will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 25°C.  So, Hurricane Douglas will not be able to extract as much energy from the upper ocean.  It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  The lack of wind shear will allow Hurricane Douglas to weaken gradually.

Hurricane Douglas will move south of a subtropical high pressure system over the Eastern and Central North Pacific Ocean.  The high will steer Douglas toward the west-northwest.  On its anticipated track Hurricane Douglas will approach Hawaii on Sunday.

Hurricane Douglas Strengthens to a Major Hurricane

Hurricane Douglas strengthened to a major hurricane on Thursday morning.  At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Hurricane Douglas was located at latitude 13.1°N and longitude 134.7°W which put it about 1470 miles (2365 km) east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.  Douglas was moving toward the west-northwest at 17 m.p.h. (28 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 Douglas strengthened rapidly into a major hurricane during the past 24 hours.  A circular eye formed at the center of Douglas.  A ring of thunderstorms surrounded the eye and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Douglas.  Storms near the core were generating strong upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the hurricane.  Winds to hurricane force extended out 25 miles (40 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 100 miles (160 km) from the center.

Hurricane Douglas will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 12 to 24 hours.  Douglas 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 Douglas could strengthen on Thursday.  Douglas will start to move over slightly cooler water on Friday.  It is likely to weaken slowly once the core of the circulation moves over the cooler water.

Hurricane Douglas will move south of a subtropical high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean.  The high will steer Douglas toward the west-northwest during the next few days.  On its anticipated track Hurricane Douglas could approach Hawaii on Sunday.  Watches could be issued for Hawaii later this week.

Tropical Storm Douglas Strengthens Into a Hurricane

Former Tropical Storm Douglas strengthened into a hurricane east of Hawaii on Wednesday morning.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Monday the center of Hurricane Douglas was located at latitude 11.8°N and longitude 129.5°W which put it about 1785 miles (2870 km) east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.  Douglas was moving toward the west 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 993 mb.

Former Tropical Storm Douglas exhibited more organization on satellite images.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of circulation and an eye was visible intermittently on satellite images.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Hurricane Douglas.  Storms near the center were generating upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the hurricane.  Winds to hurricane force extended out 20 miles (30 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center.

Hurricane Douglas will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next several days.  Douglas will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Hurricane Douglas will continue to intensify and it could strengthen into a major hurricane.

Hurricane Douglas will move south of a subtropical high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean.  The high will steer Douglas toward the west-northwest.  On its anticipated track Hurricane Douglas could approach Hawaii on Sunday.  Watches could be issued for Hawaii later this week when Douglas moves closer.