Hone, which formed as a tropical storm and strengthened to a hurricane, was making its closest pass to Hawaii on Sunday, with its center just under 60 miles south of the Big Island.
Damaging wind gusts of 57 miles per hour and three to six inches of rain have already been measured on the island’s windward side.
The heavy rain prompted some flooding concerns. Forecasters issued a flash flood warning for Sunday morning as more rain falls. Storm totals could reach up to a foot in some locations before Hone spins westward.
The storm strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane on Sunday but was expected to weaken in the evening, forecasters said.
A tropical storm warning was issued for Hawaii County, meaning that tropical storm conditions were possible there through the weekend.
Forecasters on Saturday had issued a Red Flag Warning for leeward areas, warning people that weather conditions were viable for wildfire if one were to start.
By Sunday, though, Hone was expected to bring significant humidity and rainfall to the islands, easing the wildfire risk through the weekend as the storm dissipates and expands westward, spreading moisture.
On Saturday in Hawaii, officials and residents said they were preparing but not with a sense of alarm.
Key things to know about this storm system.
Over the weekend, rainfall amounts may reach six to 12 inches along the windward areas of the Big Island of Hawaii, with two to four inches possible over windward sections of the smaller islands.
An ocean swell that could cause life-threatening surf and rip currents will reach the Hawaiian Islands over the weekend.
As Hone tracks away from Hawaii, Gilma will approach. Gilma is a more intense hurricane than Hone, but as of Sunday, forecasters believed it will weaken and track north of the state late this week.
In August 2018, Hurricane Lane passed over 100 miles south of the Hawaiian Island chain and pummeled the island of Hawaii with 58 inches of rainfall, the most the state has ever seen from a tropical system.
While the Big Island was in a deluge, the most damaging winds from Lane remained offshore, but in western Maui, they were still gusty enough to fan the flames of a series of wildfires.
Then, in an ominous precursor to last year’s deadly fire, “three wildfires rapidly charred 2,000 acres and destroyed 21 residential structures, causing over $4 million in reported damage,” according to a report filed the following year.
The Lahaina wildfire last year was the deadliest in the United States in 100 years, killing more than 100 people and destroying the town.
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