Hurricane Kiko is closing in on Hawaii, where residents are preparing for life-threatening rip currents and towering waves up to 15 feet.
The storm is currently moving northwest at 14 mph, and the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said it should maintain that course over the next few days.
On this track, Kiko is expected to pass north of the main Hawaiian Islands on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Spaghetti models show multiple potential paths for the storm, but the most likely track takes it near or just south of the Big Island before moving northwest across the central Pacific.
Currently a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, Kiko is expected to weaken to a tropical storm by late Monday, according to the NHC.
Acting Governor Sylvia Luke issued an emergency proclamation declaring a state of emergency across the entire state on Friday, which will stay until September 19.
‘To ensure the safety and preparedness of our communities, the state and counties will stand ready to mobilize resources to clear debris, secure infrastructure, and respond quickly to any possible damage caused by the storm,’ said Luke.
‘We urge residents and visitors to monitor updates, follow official guidance and prepare accordingly.’
Spaghetti models show multiple potential paths for the storm, but the most likely track takes it near or just south of the Big Island before moving northwest across the central Pacific
The storm is currently moving northwest at 14 mph, and the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said it should maintain that course over the next few days
While a state of emergency has been issued, the NHC center said the risks of direct impacts on the islands appeared to be decreasing, but it urged people in the islands to continue monitoring the storm’s progress.
The National Weather Service (NWS) forecast office, Honolulu, Hawaii said in a post on X, Sunday: ‘Kiko is forecast to pass north of the Hawaiian Islands on Tuesday and Wednesday.
‘While the risk of direct impacts is decreasing, continue to monitor the latest forecast. Swell will build on Mon and will peak along east-facing shores Monday night and Tuesday, producing life-threatening surf.’
The NHC noted that there is currently less than a 10 percent chance that tropical-storm-force winds will reach the islands, and no tropical storm watches are required or expected at this time.
Still, state and local officials are taking all necessary precautions ‘in case the forecast is off or the storm shifts south.’
At Honolulu’s Department of Emergency Management, for example, Deputy Director Jennifer Walter and her employees spent Saturday trying to improve communication flows, according to Hawaii News Now.
The agency now hopes to expedite its messaging to inform the public quickly of shelter locations and city closures.
Luke’s emergency order also activates the Hawaii National Guard, frees up state disaster funds and suspends procurement and regulatory laws to speed up the storm response.
Hawaii is set to feel effects of Kiko starting on Tuesday
Locals have been urged to prepare for the storm. Many have flocked to stores to stock up on groceries
Officials are also preparing for dangerous flooding that could hit on Tuesday
Residents are also urged to stock up on essential items, and tourists are advised to monitor flight and hotel alerts in case of any cancellations.
‘Preparedness is always going to be the answer for this,’ said Matthew Wells, communications director for the American Red Cross Pacific Islands Region.
Walter echoed those sentiments, saying: ‘I always think about these storms approaching that miss us almost like when you have a house guest and you’ve cleaned your house and you’ve gotten all ready and then maybe they cancel, but at the end of it, you have a clean house and a fridge full of food,’ she explained.
Kiko is already the 11th named system in the eastern Pacific this year, and the Pacific hurricane season still has three months left to go.
The season runs from May 15 until November 30, making it two weeks longer than the Atlantic hurricane season.
Previously, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had predicted a ‘below-normal season’ for the eastern Pacific, with 12 to 18 named storms, five to 10 hurricanes, and up to five major hurricanes.
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