Hawaii residents brace for Hurricane Lane

Hurricane Lane weakened slightly to a Category 4 on Wednesday as it threatens to become the first hurricane to make landfall in Hawaii in nearly three decades.

With maximum sustained winds slowing to 155 mph, Lane was downgraded from a Catagory 5 storm to Catagory 4 as it surged westerly across the Pacific Ocean toward the Big Island. Unlike Hurricane Hector, which skirted the Hawaiian Islands earlier this month, Lane is projected to veer northnorthwest and drench the Aloha State’s most populated areas.

At 5 a.m. HST, the hurricane was about 320 miles southeast of Hilo, traveling northwest at 9 mph.

National Weather Service meteorologist Melissa Dye says rain associated with the hurricane has started to show up on radar off the Big Island and offshore buoys are detecting higher-thannormal waves.

AccuWeather senior meteorologist Mike Doll told USA TODAY that the hurricane will deliver a combination of torrential rain, high winds and dangerous surf.

“Regardless of what happens in the eye of the hurricane, there’s going to be the potential for a lot of rain – 10-15 inches, perhaps even higher than that,” Doll said. “The problem with that, you get that much rain and you’re going to be seeing damage to property. It’s certainly going to be a threat to lives, as well, especially in areas that are prone to flooding.”

A hurricane watch was declared for the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe, and Oahu.

“Hurricane Lane is a very serious storm that has the potential to do damage and cause harm,” said Tom Travis, who heads the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.

Gov. David Ige on Tuesday signed an emergency proclamation to put the state in a position to lend support to county emergency responders.

Lane is forecast to turn north-northwest, or toward Honolulu – though in a weaker state.

“We expect it to be a Category 2 hurricane,” said Doll. “That’s still a dangerous hurricane. Heed local warnings.”

The last hurricane to make landfall in the island state was Iniki, a Category 4 that barreled into the island of Kauai on Sept. 11, 1992, and resulted in more than $3 billion in damages. Six people were killed.