Hurricane Douglas threatens Hawaii
WASHINGTON: Hurricane Douglas threatened to become only the third storm of its size on record to hit Hawaii as it barrelled through the Pacific late on Sunday, after the year’s first major Atlantic weather system lashed Texas.
The category one storm was around 120 kilometres north of capital Honolulu at 9pm local time on Sunday and was moving away from the city, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
But Douglas was still packing winds of up to 140kph and approaching the western island of Kauai, the centre’s forecast said.
It is rare for severe storms to make landfall in Hawaii and if Douglas does so it will be only the third in modern history after Dot in 1959 and Iniki in 1992.
Maui county lifted its hurricane warning after skies began clearing over the island by mid-afternoon, and mayor Mike Victorino said there were no reports of serious damage.
But hurricane warnings were still in effect further west for Kauai county, as well as Oahu — the island home to Honolulu, a city of just under 350,000.
“Gradual weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours, but Douglas is expected to remain a hurricane as it moves through the islands,” the NHC said earlier on Sunday.
It said the storm was expected to bring life-threatening and potentially destructive surf and rainfall of up to 15 inches on higher terrain.
Honolulu mayor Kirk Caldwell opened evacuation centers with space for 1,600 people — but warned they should be used as a “last option” and that those needing shelter would have to cover their faces and have their temperature taken, local media reported.
“If you are sheltering away from home today, please remember that #COVID19 is not taking a break for the storm,” Mr Caldwell tweeted on Sunday evening.
Late on Sunday, Hurricane Hanna was downgraded to a tropical depression after lashing Texas.
It was still packing winds of around 45 kilometres an hour as of 10pm local time after crossing from the Lone Star state into Mexico, the National Hurricane Center said, adding the storm was to dissipate by today.