Hurricane Lane: Shelters open as Hawaii residents prepare for floods and rain as storm closes in

Tropical storm-force winds, excessive rain and large swells are likely as storm passes

Hurricane Lane approaches Hawaii

Hawaii residents are bracing for “life threatening” winds and flooding as Hurricane Lane, a Category 4 storm, continues its progress towards the state.

Many have been stockpiling food, water and other supplies as schools were closed until further notice and the coast guard warned the public to prepare.

With effects from the hurricane expected to begin hitting Hawaiian islands as soon as Wednesday, Governor David Ige has already signed a state of emergency in anticipation of the storm that had sustained winds of 155 mph as it approached the islands from the southwest. Schools in the island have been shut down as well.

"This will allow us to line up services and resources prior so that we can keep our communities safe," Mr Ige wrote in a tweet announcing his decision. "Never seen such dramatic changes in forecast track as with Hurricane Lane. Urging residents to prepare for a significant impact".

Meanwhile, officials have warned residents to shelter in place during the storm if possible, noting that Hawaii does not have enough shelter space to house everyone on the island.

President Donald Trump also weighed in, saying: "Everyone in the path of Hurricane Lane please prepare yourselves, heed the advice of State and local officials and follow @NWSHonolulu for updates. Be safe!"

The National Weather Service has issued a hurricane warning for Hawaii island and a hurricane watch for Oahu, Maui and other smaller islands, meaning tropical storm-force winds, excessive rain and large swells could arrive starting on Wednesday — and storm conditions are likely to last through at least Saturday. A hurricane warning had already been extended from Hawaii's Big Island to the island of Maui on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

While Lane had previously gained strength to become a Category 5 storm — marking just one of two recorded instances of a storm of that strength passing within 350 miles of the southern point of Big Island — conditions were not sustainable for that speed, and it was quickly dec-categorised. Lane is expected, according to forecasts, to pass close by the southern tip of the Hawaiian islands at 2 pm local time Thursday, and then travel north until it hits close to northern portions at 2 pm Friday, and then veer westward into the Pacific Ocean.

Additional reporting by agencies

Key Points

• Cyclone expected to track 'dangerously' close to or over islands from Thursday to Saturday
• It could bring 'damaging winds and life-threatening flash flooding', National Weather Service warns
• Residents are being told to shelter in place unless they live in flood zones or are instructed to evacuate, as the state has limited shelter room
• Airlines servicing Hawaii have begun offering fee waivers for flight changes, and petrol stations have begun to run out of gas

[22 August 2018 12:21 · Samuel Osborne]

Here are the latest updates on Hurricane Lane, a Category 5 storm currently making its way towards Hawaii.

Residents have been stockpiling food and water as the US National Weather Service warned they could face "damaging winds and life-threatening flash flooding from heavy rainfall" as the hurricane moved closer to the islands.

[22 August 2018 12:21 · Samuel Osborne]

  ↵On Tuesday, Hurricane Lane strengthened to a maximum Category 5 storm. 

[22 August 2018 12:36 · Samuel Osborne]

The National Hurricane Centre has warned the centre of the storm is expected to track "dangerously" close to or over the islands from Thursday through to Saturday.

[22 August 2018 12:44 · Samuel Osborne]

Hurricane Lane "is forecast to move dangerously close to the main Hawaiian islands as a hurricane later this week, potentially bringing damaging winds and life-threatening flash flooding from heavy rainfall," the weather service's Central Pacific Hurricane Center warned as it got closer to the state. 

[22 August 2018 12:59 · Samuel Osborne]

Hurricane Lane was about 350 miles (565km) south-southeast of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, with maximum sustained winds of 160mph (260km/h) at about 11:30pm local time, the National Hurricane Centre said.

The storm, which was moving west-northwest near 9mph (15km/h), was expected to turn toward the northwest on Wednesday, followed by a turn to the north-northwest on Thursday.

[22 August 2018 13:23 · Samuel Osborne]

Winds and rain from the storm are expected to hit the Big Island, then churn north over the islands of Maui, Lanai and Moloka'i, which were all under hurricane and flash flood watches.

Rainfall of 20in(51 cm) in some areas could lead to major flash flooding, landslides and mudslides, the National Hurricane Centre said.

Devastation caused by winds and flooding may make locations uninhabitable for weeks and Hawaii residents were warned to be prepared to evacuate their homes.

[22 August 2018 13:42 · Samuel Osborne]

As they prepared for Hurricane Lane, residents of Hawaii recalled a devastating hurricane in 1992 in an interview with the Associated Press.

Kauai resident Mike Miranda was 12 when Hurricane Iniki devastated the island 26 years ago.

"A lot of people are comparing the similarities between Iniki and Lane," he said. 

Iniki's turn into the islands was sudden, he recalled. 

"I remember how very little rain fell. But I remember the wind being the strongest force of nature I've ever witnessed and probably the scariest sounds I've ever heard in my life," he said. 

Utility poles were down all over the island, and his 7th-grade classes were held in Army tents for several months. 

Mr Miranda said his family is used to preparing for hurricane season. 

"A lot of people who moved here and never experienced a hurricane, they're the ones rushing to the store," he said. 

[22 August 2018 13:57 · Samuel Osborne]

Hawaii's governor, David Ige, has allowed non-essential state employees on the Big Island and Maui to go on administrative leave from Wednesday to Friday as the hurricane approaches.

Employees on Hawaii and Maui islands who work in disaster response as well as in hospitals and prisons are required to report to their jobs, the governor said. 

[22 August 2018 13:57 · Steve Anderson]

A direct hit anywhere in Hawaii "would be a worst case scenario," said Thomas Birchard, a meteorologist with National Hurricane Center (NHC).

The storm is expected to slowly weaken over the next 48 hours - but there is still significant danger.

[22 August 2018 14:03 · Steve Anderson]

  ↵Here is Hurricane Lane moving via satellite footage taken earlier: