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Tropical Storm Felicia not weakening, packing 50 mph winds and higher gusts

Winds coming from the direction of Tropical Storm Felicia push the cloud cover towards the west in this time-lapse photography movie of Hilo Bay Sunday afternoon. Photography by Baron Sekiya/Hawaii247.com

Central Pacific Infrared Images

20090809_felicia-track27

TROPICAL STORM FELICIA ADVISORY NUMBER 27
NWS CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER HONOLULU HI EP082009
1100 PM HST SUN AUG 09 2009

…FELICIA CONTINUES MOVING TOWARD THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS WITH NO SIGNS OF WEAKENING THIS EVENING…

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR OAHU…THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII…AND FOR ALL OF MAUI COUNTY…WHICH INCLUDES THE ISLANDS OF MAUI…KAHOOLAWE…LANAI…AND MOLOKAI. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA…GENERALLY WITHIN THE NEXT 36 TO 48 HOURS.

INTERESTS ON KAUAI AND NIIHAU SHOULD CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE FUTURE PROGRESS OF FELICIA.

AT 1100 PM HST…0900 UTC…THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM FELICIA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 21.0 NORTH…LONGITUDE 149.2 WEST OR ABOUT 395 MILES EAST-NORTHEAST OF HILO…HAWAII AND ABOUT 560 MILES EAST OF HONOLULU…HAWAII.

FELICIA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 10 MPH AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY. ON THIS TRACK…THE OUTER WINDS FROM FELICIA ARE EXPECTED TO REACH THE EASTERNMOST HAWAIIAN ISLANDS MONDAY NIGHT.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 50 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. GRADUAL WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. FELICIA IS EXPECTED TO REACH THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS AS EITHER A TROPICAL STORM OR A TROPICAL DEPRESSION.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS NOW EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140 MILES FROM THE CENTER.

THE LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY THE U.S. AIR FORCE RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT IS 1005 MB…29.68 INCHES.

EVEN THOUGH FELICIA IS STILL EAST OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS…A BUILDING SWELL GENERATED BY THE TROPICAL CYCLONE HAS ALREADY REACHED THE EAST FACING SHORES OF THE BIG ISLAND AND MAUI. THIS LARGE SWELL WILL BEGIN TO IMPACT THE REMAINING HAWAIIAN ISLANDS LATER TONIGHT AND MONDAY.

REGARDLESS OF THE INTENSITY OF FELICIA WHEN IT REACHES THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS…HEAVY RAINS ARE STILL EXPECTED TO OCCUR AND FLASH FLOODING REMAINS A POSSIBILITY.

…SUMMARY OF 1100 PM HST INFORMATION…
LOCATION…21.0N 149.2W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…50 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT…WEST OR 270 DEGREES AT 10 MPH
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…1005 MB

AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER AT 200 AM HST FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 500 AM HST.

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
Hurricane Categories Explained: www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshs.shtml

Weather forecasts of all the islands: www.prh.noaa.gov/pr/hnl

Satellite image taken at Aug 10 at 0300 UTC. Images courtesy of NOAA-NASA GOES Project Click on image above for full earth image.

Satellite image taken at Aug 9 at 0900 UTC. Images courtesy of NOAA-NASA GOES Project Click on image above for full earth image.

ACTIONS TO TAKE WHEN A HURRICANE NEARS HAWAII
hurricane-preparedness-tumbAll of Hawaii’s citizens should know what to do during hurricane and tropical storm watches and warnings. Watches and warnings are prepared for the Hawaiian Islands by the National Weather Service Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu. When watches and warnings are issued, people should closely monitor radio, TV, or NOAA Weather Radio for official bulletins of the storm’s progress and instructions from civil defense authorities. Jim Weyman, director of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center, said, “Although you and your family may have never experienced a hurricane, don’t be complacent! It’s not a matter of if a hurricane will occur, but when one will occur. All of the Hawaiian Islands are at risk for a hurricane and we should all know what actions to take.”

For the Central Pacific Ocean starting with the 2009 hurricane season, a Hurricane/Tropical Storm Watch means hurricane/tropical storm conditions are possible in the specificed area of the Watch, usually within 48 hours.

When a Hurricane or Tropical Storm Watch is issued:

Hurricane preparedness supplies at Home Depot in Hilo. Photography by Baron Sekiya/Hawaii247.com

Hurricane preparedness supplies at Home Depot in Hilo. Photography by Baron Sekiya/Hawaii247.com

  • Fuel and service family vehicles.
  • Prepare to cover all windows and door openings with boards, shutters or other shielding materials.
  • Check food and water supplies. Have clean, air-tight containers on hand to store at least two weeks of drinking water (14 gallons per person), and stock up on canned provisions. Keep a small cooler with frozen gel packs handy for packing refrigerated items.
  • Check prescription medicines – obtain at least 10 days to 2 weeks supply.
  • Stock up on extra batteries for radios, flashlights, and lanterns.
  • Store and secure outdoor lawn furniture and other loose, lightweight objects, such as garbage cans and garden tools.
  • Check and replenish first-aid supplies.
  • Have on hand an extra supply of cash.

For the Central Pacific Ocean starting with the 2009 hurricane season, a Hurricane/Tropical Storm Warning means hurricane/tropical storm conditions are expected in the specified area of the Warning, usually within 36 hours.

When a Hurricane or Tropical Storm Warning is issued:

  • Follow instructions issued by civil defense. Leave immediately if ordered to do so.
  • Complete preparation activities, such as boarding up windows and storing loose objects.
  • Evacuate areas that might be affected by storm surge flooding. If evacuating, leave early.
  • Notify neighbors and a family member outside of the warned area of your evacuation plans.

Hawaii County Civil Defense Huricane Preparedness Guide: co.hawaii.hi.us/cd/hpg/main.html

The Hawaii Chapter of the American Red Cross has Hurricane Preparedness Guide

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