LIHU’E – Hurricane Daniel, which as recently as yesterday was predicted to still be a hurricane when it enters Hawaiian waters, has weakened as forecasted along with trailing Tropical Storm Emilia. Daniel will likely still be classified as a hurricane
LIHU’E – Hurricane Daniel, which as recently as yesterday was predicted to still be a hurricane when it enters Hawaiian waters, has weakened as forecasted along with trailing Tropical Storm Emilia.
Daniel will likely still be classified as a hurricane if it enters Hawaiian waters as predicted, probably Saturday. But officials said it has shown a weakening trend.
A hurricane is any storm packing sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or more.
This morning, Daniel was still about 1,500 miles from the Big Island, with maximum sustained winds of around 100 miles per hour and gusts to 120 miles per hour, according to National Weather Service officials. The storm was moving due west at 15 miles per hour.
But it is projected to continue weakening as it approaches Hawaiian waters at 140 degrees west longitude. Early today, Daniel was at 132.5 degrees.
Forecasters predict Daniel to continue weakening, dropping in strength by about five miles per hour for each 12-hour period.
Tropical Storm Emilia this morning was at 111.0 west longitude, with maximum sustained winds of around 50 miles per hour, and gusts to around 65 miles per hour.
Emilia has been weakening and is forecast to continue losing steam.
Staff writer Paul C. Curtis can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@pulitzer.net
