Hurricane Warning and Tropical Storm Watch Issued: Hurricane Madeline Could Threaten Hawaii Wednesday

Jonathan Belles
Published: August 30,2016
Hurricane Madeline rapidly intensified from Sunday into Monday morning, becoming the second named storm to become a hurricane in the central Pacific Ocean. Madeline may take a close swipe at parts of the Hawaiian Islands in the days ahead.
Madeline's estimated peak surface winds increased from a 50 mph tropical storm Sunday morning, to a 130 mph Category 4 hurricane by Tuesday morning but has now weakened back to a Category 3.
A hurricane warning has been issued for Hawaii's Big Island. This means hurricane-force winds are expected within the warning area in the next 48 hours or less.
A tropical storm watch is in effect for the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai. This means that tropical storm conditions are possible within 48 hours.

Current Watches/Warnings

The Hurricane Hunters have begun flying missions into Madeline to ascertain critical details including not only the intensity, but also the size of Madeline's tropical storm-force and hurricane-force wind fields.

Chances that winds greater than or equal to 39 mph will impact a given point

Chances are very good that winds of tropical storm force will impact the mountain peaks and the southern portion of the Big Island.
(MORE: Lester Could Also Threaten Hawaii)
Here's the latest from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center:

• Hurricane Madeline was located about 350 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii, as of Tuesday afternoon.
• A hurricane warning has been issued for the Big Island.
• A tropical storm watch is in effect for the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai. 
• The system will move near or south of Hawaii on Wednesday (local time) and could be a minimal hurricane or tropical storm at that time.
• Madeline is expected to bring 5 to 10 inches of rain for the Big Island, with rainfall totals as high as 15 inches on the windward side of that island. Flash flooding and mudslides are possible.
• High surf is likely no matter what.
• Hawaii residents and visitors should be aware of the latest updates and make necessary preparations if Madeline targets the islands.

Forecast rainfall

(MORE: Hurricane Season Outlook | Hurricane Central)

Current Storm Status

Projected Path

Hawaii County Civil Defense is already keeping an eye on both Madeline and Lester.
The Big Island's interim civil defense administrator Ed Teixeira told KHON-TV the county cleared culverts and trimmed trees ahead of Tropical Storm Darby in July, helping to limit the damage from that storm.
The county has a list of preparedness tips on its website.
In the end, Madeline may take a similar track as Iselle did in August 2014, only the second tropical storm of record to landfall on the Big Island.
As the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) rightly points out, impacts are expected to extend well beyond the cone of uncertainty.
Madeline's tropical storm-force winds extend up to 125 miles from the center Tuesday evening.

Lester Follows On the Heels of Madeline

Hurricane Lester is moving west across the eastern Pacific Ocean and should continue to do so for the next several days before curling a bit more west-northwest this weekend.
This track may bring Lester near the Hawaiian Islands over the Labor Day weekend.
Lester could still be a minimal hurricane by the time it approaches Hawaii Saturday into early Sunday, but it's still too far out in time to nail down specifics.
For more information on Hurricane Lester, refer to our forecast article.
Check back with us at weather.com for updates on these two systems.

MORE: Images of Hurricane Eyes