LIHUE — It is likely to be a wet, windy weekend on the Garden Isle, as Hurricane Iselle moves closer to the Hawaiian Islands. Iselle is expected to weaken into a tropical storm before it first hits the Big Island
LIHUE — It is likely to be a wet, windy weekend on the Garden Isle, as Hurricane Iselle moves closer to the Hawaiian Islands.
Iselle is expected to weaken into a tropical storm before it first hits the Big Island on Thursday afternoon, Acting Director Tom Evans of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said Monday. The storm is expected to pass Kauai early Saturday, before sunrise.
On Monday, the National Weather Service in Honolulu issued a flood potential outlook for the state.
“While Iselle is expected to be moving steadily west as it passes through the island chain … abundant moisture drawn into the circulation will bring the potential for very heavy rainfall and flash flooding on Thursday and Friday,” the NWS wrote.
Evans said the storm is likely to bring winds of 40 mph to 50 mph. Weather officials will likely issue a tropical storm watch today, 48 hours before the storm is expected to make landfall.
As of 5 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time Monday, Iselle was more than 1,200 miles east of Hilo, moving toward the islands at 10 mph with sustained wind gusts up to 140 mph, according to a National Hurricane Center advisory.
The storm is not expected to significantly affect the state’s primary election based on current weather forecasts. Hawaii’s primary election is Saturday, with several marquee races including Democratic primaries for U.S. Senate, governor and a U.S. House seat covering urban Honolulu.
In light of the approaching weather, County of Kauai elections officials are encouraging voters to vote early in the Historic County Annex basement. Early voting is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the last day to early vote is Thursday.
For additional information, please contact the Elections Division at 241-4800.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
