LIHUE — Kauai is the least likely of all the Hawaiian Islands to be hit by Hurricane Madeline, which has triggered a hurricane watch for the Big Island. “It’s significantly far away (so) we can’t rule out the effects on
LIHUE — Kauai is the least likely of all the Hawaiian Islands to be hit by Hurricane Madeline, which has triggered a hurricane watch for the Big Island.
“It’s significantly far away (so) we can’t rule out the effects on Kauai,” National Weather Service meteorologist, Derek Wroe said Monday. “Right now the highest impacts you’ll have, at the highest chances, are high surf along east-facing shores.”
That probably won’t be showing up until Wednesday, but the chances of a high surf advisory increase as the week moves on.
As of 5 p.m. Monday, Hurricane Madeline was about 870 miles east-southeast of Lihue and 575 miles east of Hilo.
“The bulk of the energy will be partially blocked by the rest of the state, though,” Wroe said. “Right now we’re expecting the large surf on the Big Island.”
The current track of Hurricane Madeline projects the storm’s movement to the south of Kauai, meaning the bulk of the rainfall will most likely be to the south of Kauai.
Flash flood watches are expected to be confined to the Big Island.
“It could pick up and we could see enhancement of rainfall in late Wednesday and Thursday,” Wroe said.
Madeline joins Hurricane Lester, which is more than 1,805 miles east-southeast of Kauai and isn’t currently a threat to the Hawaiian Islands. Lester, however, is moving steadily west and could arrive just in time for Labor Day weekend, Wroe said.
“It’s too far out to see where that will end up going , but based on the best projections, it’s in our neighborhood through the weekend,” Wroe said.
Though Kauai isn’t under a hurricane watch, Wroe recommends vigilance.
“This is the peak of hurricane season and right now, we urge people to continue to monitor on Kauai,” Wroe said. “Look at your hurricane plan. Review it, and if you don’t have one, think about it.”
