Tropical Storm Hone To Hit Hawaii With Fire And Flooding This Weekend 

Tropical Storm Hone is threatening to deliver severe and dangerous weather conditions to Hawaii this weekend. Hawaii’s Big Island is currently under a tropical storm watch as Hone is on track to pass the state very closely this weekend, delivering heavy rains, strong winds, dangerous sea conditions, and concerns of wildfires, according to reports.

“Tropical activity has been abundant in the Pacific Ocean this year, but none of the seven East Pacific named storms have come close to Hawaii. Hone, the first storm to form in the Central Pacific since 2019, will break that mold,” wrote Mary Gilbert, a meteorologist for CNN.

The storm is set to pass around 150 miles south of the Big Island on Saturday, and will last until Sunday morning. Rain and wind will be consistent throughout the weekend beginning early Saturday morning. 

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Experts are predicting rainfall of 4 to 8 inches on the east and southeast parts of the Big Island, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Maui could experience about 6 inches of rain and Oahu 2 to 4 inches.

“Winds are expected to be strongest where they blow downslope [on the Big Island] from higher terrain, over headlands and through passes,” the CPHC warned.

The storm’s strongest winds could reach speeds of 73 mph and will last from late Saturday through Sunday. 

There is also major concern over the potential for wildfires from the storm, especially considering Hawaii is still recovering from devastating wildfires that have been named the “most devastating fires in US history,” according to CNN.

“Drier air and windy conditions ahead of Hone could elevate fire weather concerns across leeward areas statewide (Saturday),” the National Weather Service in Honolulu said.

Hone is projected to strengthen late Sunday into Monday, and could even become a hurricane briefly.