Hurricane Lane soaks Hawaii’s Big Island, with more rain on the way

HONOLULU — Hurricane Lane soaked Hawaii’s Big Island on Thursday, dumping 30 centimetres of rain in 12 hours as residents stocked up on supplies and tried to protect their homes ahead of the state’s first hurricane since 1992.

The National Weather Service warned that some areas could see up to 76 centimetres before the system passes. Bands of rain extended 566 kilometres from the hurricane’s centre. Lane was not projected to make direct hit on the islands, but officials warned that even a lesser blow could do significant harm.

The Category 4 storm could bring dangerous surf of six metres and a storm surge of up to a metre, forecasters said. Tropical storm conditions, with winds of 118 km/h, were expected to reach the Big Island, Hawaii’s easternmost major island, later Thursday morning, with hurricane conditions possible later in the day.

The storm was expected to turn to the north later Thursday and into Friday, with little change expected in forward speed. The centre of the system could move close to or over portions of the main islands on Thursday or Friday. The storm will then likely turn to the west Saturday and Sunday and accelerate, forecasters said. On Wednesday, the hurricane’s speed slowed from 15 km/h to 11 km/h.

A slower hurricane increases the threat of flash floods and landslides because of prolonged rainfall.

On the island of Oahu, shelters were scheduled to open Thursday. Officials were also working to help Hawaii’s sizeable homeless population, many of whom live near beaches and streams that could flood.

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Tom Travis said there’s not enough shelter space statewide and advised people who were not in flood zones to stay home.

Authorities also warned that the shelters are not designed to withstand winds greater than about 64 km/h and that, for most people, they should be a “last resort.”