HONOLULU (AP) — Tropical Storm Horn strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane late Saturday as it continued to move steadily toward Hawaii, forecasters said.
The Horn (pronounced ho-neh) had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph), according to an 11 p.m. warning from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu. The minimum threshold for hurricane status is 74 mph (119 kph).
The center said the storm was moving west at 12 mph (19 kph) about 105 miles (170 km) south of Hilo on Hawaii Island and about 275 miles (440 km) southeast of Honolulu, and a tropical storm warning remained in effect for the island.
The Hurricane Center, part of the National Weather Service, previously said Horn was expected to weaken to just below peak hurricane strength Sunday into Monday.
Hurricane Girma, still located about 1,480 miles (2,380 kilometers) east of Hilo, strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane on Saturday night.
The horn, which means “sweet and soft” in Hawaiian, is expected to approach the islands on Saturday with winds that will increase the risk of wildfires in drier parts of the state, with memories of last year’s deadly wildfires on Maui still fresh.
A red flag fire warning was in effect for the leeward side of all islands until 6 p.m. Saturday. The National Weather Service issues warnings when a combination of high temperatures, very low humidity and high winds creates increased fire danger.
“They need to take this seriously,” said Calvin Endo, a Waianae Coast District board member who lives in Makaha on Oahu’s wildfire-prone leeward side.
Much of the archipelago is already abnormally dry or in drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, and the hurricane center expects the strongest winds to sweep downslope from the highlands, over headlands and through mountain passes.
The situation is reminiscent of the deadly wildfires that ripped through Maui last year. Hurricane-force windsBut while Mount Horn poses a high fire danger, “it’s not that big of a deal,” Derek Lowe, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu, said Saturday.
The fire that occurred on August 8, 2023 Historic Town of Lahaina teeth The worst wildfires in US history 102 people have died in over a century. Dry, overgrown Grass and drought It helped the fire spread.
For years, Endo has been concerned about the dead branches and leaves growing on the private property behind his house. He has dealt with the problem by pruning the branches and leaves himself, but he worries about the neighbors whose homes adjoin the overgrown vegetation.
“With fire and wind, we can enjoy Lahaina again,” Endo said this morning. “I can already see the wind starting to pick up.”
The cause of the Lahaina fire is still under investigation. There may have been a fire Strong winds caused power lines to become exposed and utility poles to tilt.
The state’s two power companies, Hawaiian Electric and Kauai Island Utilities Cooperative, said they were monitoring the situation this weekend and preparing to shut off power if necessary to reduce the chance that live, damaged lines could cause fires.
Firefighters remained on the scene of a small fire that broke out in Waikoloa on the drier side of the Big Island on Friday night, according to Big Island Mayor Mitch Ross. The blaze has been contained and there were no injuries or damage.
“We’re expecting rain all day,” Ross said from Hilo on the east side of the island, where rain is falling.
Ian Morrison, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu, said the island had received enough rain late Saturday that a red flag warning was lifted, but warnings remained in effect for other islands.
Ross said officials had closed several beach parks on Hawaii Island in anticipation of dangerously high surf and were preparing to open evacuation centers if needed.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority said it remains safe to come to the islands but advised travelers to postpone outdoor activities.
The eastern and southeastern Big Island could see 5 to 10 inches (11 to 25 centimeters) of rain. The island could see sustained wind speeds of 20 to 40 mph (32 to 64 kph) with gusts approaching 60 mph (97 kph), weather officials said.
Moving westward across the Pacific Ocean behind the Horn was Hurricane Girma. Another alert at 11 p.m. Saturday said Girma’s “intensity was leveling off” and that the storm was located 1,500 miles (2,410 kilometers) west of Baja California. With maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 kph), the storm had strengthened to the lowest level of a Category 4 hurricane.
Forecasters expected Girma to strengthen further before gradually weakening as it passes over cooler sea surface temperatures and enters drier, more stable air masses.
