Douglas Intensifies Slightly As It Continues On Path Just North Of Kauai; Hurricane Warning For Oahu Canceled

A hurricane warning for Oahu has been cancelled, but Hurricane Douglas intensified slightly as it headed west-northwest at 16 mph toward Kauai.

Hurricane Douglas increased its maximum sustained winds to 90 mph and is 50 miles northeast of Lihue as it projects to pass just north of the island according to the 11 p.m. update from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the centre and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles.

The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory for the island of Kauai until 1 a.m. and may need to extend it if heavy rain persists.

A flash flood watch remains in effect for Kauai County through Monday afternoon.

The storm is now 100 miles northwest of Honolulu.

UPDATE: 8 p.m.

Hurricane Douglas continued its near-miss weekend trip past the Hawaiian islands tonight, leaving only Kauai in its potential path.

At 8 p.m., Douglas maintained its maximum sustained winds of 85 mph and was moving west-northwest at 16 mph. This motion is expected to continue over the next couple of days.

The Category 1 hurricane’s centre was 60 miles north of Honolulu and 85 miles east of Lihue, according to the 8 p.m. update from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

Hurricane-force winds of 74 mph or more extend up to 40 miles from Douglas’ centre and tropical-storm-force winds of 39 mph or more extend up to 115 miles.

Douglas is expected to remain a hurricane as it moves near Kauai later tonight, forecasters said.

Robert Ballard of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said that Oahu and Maui County benefited from being on the weaker southern side of the massive storm.

Oahu and Kauai remain under a hurricane warning and the entire island chain is under a flash flood watch until Monday afternoon.

6:35 p.m.

Kauai County and the Hawaii Red Cross volunteers have opened four emergency shelters on Kauai as Hurricane Douglas continues on a path that could bring it dangerously close to the north side of the island overnight.

Red Cross officials said the shelters are recommended as a last resort, and that the public should shelter-in-place at home, with family, or with a friend or neighbour if it is safe.

Evacuees must bring their own food and personal protective equipment such as face masks and hand sanitizer. Pets must be in a pet carrier or cage for safety and owners must provide water and food for their pets, officials said.

The four sites are:

• Kapaa Middle School, 4867 Olohena Road in Kapaa
• Kalaheo Neighborhood Center, 4480 Papalina Road, Kalaheo
• Kauai Community College, 3-1901 Kaumualii Hwy, Lihue
• Kilauea Neighborhood Center,2460 Keneke St., Kilauea.

Shelters in Maui County, meanwhile, have closed.

5 p.m.

Category 1 Douglas was moving just off Windward Oahu this afternoon in one of the closest encounters with a hurricane for the island in decades.

At 5 p.m., Douglas, with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph, was moving west-northwest at 16 mph and this motion is expected to continue over the next couple of days. Hurricane-force winds of 74 mph or more extend up to 40 miles from Douglas’ centre and tropical-storm-force winds of 39 mph or more extend up to 115 miles.

Douglas was approximately 60 miles northeast of Honolulu and 90 miles northwest of Kahului.

The hurricane warning for Maui County has been cancelled but is still in effect for Oahu and Kauai County.

Robert Ballard of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s “Spotlight Hawaii” live-stream show that this was the closest call he has seen for Oahu in 20 years here.

“I can’t even describe how close this is right now,” Ballard said in the 3 p.m. interview.

He stressed that forecasters continued to worry about a “jog to the left” that would bring dangerously closer to Oahu, but if the storm continues it’s west-northwest track, the island should be in the clear by tonight.

Kauai still must closely monitor the storm into the night, he said.

Ballard said Maui County, which escaped any significant damage, and Oahu were on the “somewhat weaker” southern side of the storm, which featured 95 mph when it was threatening the islands earlier this weekend.

Hurricane-force winds of 74 mph or more extend up to 35 miles from Douglas’ centre and tropical-storm-force winds of 39 mph or more extend up to 115 miles. CPHC said at 5 p.m. that “on the forecast track, Douglas will pass near Oahu and Kauai tonight.”

2 p.m.

Hurricane Douglas, with 85 mph maximum sustained winds and higher gusts was located about 50 miles north of Kahului and about 100 miles east of Honolulu, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center’s 2 p.m. update.

A tropical storm warning for the Big Island has been cancelled.

At 2 p.m., Douglas was moving west-northwest at 16 mph and this motion is expected to continue over the next couple of days.

“On the forecast track, Douglas will pass near, or over, the islands from Maui to Kauai through tonight,” forecasters said.

Hurricane-force winds of 74 mph or more extend up to 35 miles from Douglas’ centre and tropical-storm-force winds of 39 mph or more extend up to 115 miles.

Oahu and Maui and Kauai counties are under a hurricane warning. A warning means hurricane conditions are expected in the next 36 hours. The entire island chain is under a flash flood watch until Monday afternoon.

Molokai #hitraffic #hiwx avoid Rte 450 at Kamalo Dip (mile marker 10.5) due to debris and flooding. pic.twitter.com/IKeZmgZi6e

— Hawaii DOT (@DOTHawaii) July 27, 2020

UPDATE: 12:58 p.m.

The National Weather Service says a flood advisory for Maui will expire at 1 p.m. today. A flash flood watch remains in effect for the island.

UPDATE 11:39 a.m.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell said during a press conference this morning that outdoor warning sirens were sounded on Oahu at 11 a.m. to give residents three hours notice of the arrival of Hurricane Douglas to the island.

The City will be sounding the warning sirens again at noon. Sirens will sound a steady tone for 3 minutes.

UPDATE 11:00 a.m.

Hawaii residents continue to await the arrival of Hurricane Douglas as the category 1 storm makes its final approach toward the state.

As of 11 a.m. today, Douglas was approximately 55 miles east-northeast of Kahului and 140 miles east of Honolulu with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph.

Douglas is moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph, with this motion is expected to continue. Maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph with higher gusts and gradual weakening forecast during the next 48 hours, but the storm is still expected to remain a hurricane as it moves through the islands with hurricane-force winds extending outward up to 35 miles.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Maui County, including the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe; Oahu; and Kauai County, including the islands of Kauai and Niihau.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Hawaii County and portions of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument from Nihoa to French Frigate Shoals.

UPDATE 10:05 a.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood advisory for the island of Maui until 1 p.m.

At about 10 a.m., radar indicated heavy rain near Paia, falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour. Locations in the advisory include but are not limited to Haliimaile, Pauwela, Kipahulu, Makawao, Paia, Haiku-Pauwela, Huelo, Kula, Pukalani, Nahiki, Kaupo and Hana.

Officials warn the public to stay away from streams, drainage ditches and low-lying areas prone to flooding,. Rainfall and runoff will also cause hazardous driving conditions due to ponding, reduced visibility and poor braking actions.

Do not cross fast flowing or rising water in your vehicle or by foot, officials warned.

The advisory may be extended beyond 1 p.m. if heavy rain persists.

A flash flood watch also remains in effect for all Hawaiian islands.