Tropical Storm Warnings have been issued for Hawaii’s Big Island as Tropical Storm Hone approaches the state on Saturday.
Although a direct landfall is not expected, the storm’s outer bands are anticipated to bring potentially damaging wind gusts, heavy rainfall, and dangerous surf to the eastern islands by the end of the day. As a precaution, all campgrounds in Hawaii have been closed through Monday to mitigate the impacts of the storm.
The National Hurricane Center reports that Hone’s peak wind speeds have reached 65 mph, with higher gusts, and the storm is currently situated about 300 miles east-southeast of Hilo. The storm is expected to pass near or south of the Big Island from Saturday night into early Sunday, with potential strengthening to hurricane status as it continues southwest of the island.
Residents should prepare for strong winds, with gusts up to 50 mph expected on the Big Island and across other islands, along with significant rainfall that could lead to localized flash flooding. A Flood Watch remains in effect for the Big Island, and life-threatening surf and rip currents are expected throughout the weekend.
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