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Hurricane Lane is crossing the Pacific and could strike the Hawaiian Islands later this week, meteorologists have warned.
While high winds, torrential rain, battering surf and rip currents are all forecast, uncertainty currently reigns over the hurricane’s precise path and intensity, according to the National Weather Centre (NWC).
On Monday, the centre of the storm was about 600 miles southeast of Hilo on the Big Island or 800 miles from the state’s capital city, Honolulu.
At present, it is a strong Category 4 hurricane with winds of 150mph, but is expected to weaken in the coming days meaning a tropical storm or hurricane watch may be required for parts of Hawaii as Lane tracks west at a speed of 12mph, under the influence of high subtropical pressure to the north.
It is expected to take a northwest lurch towards Hawaii on Tuesday or Wednesday as the western edge of that pressure weakens.
The storm will ultimately fall away to the southwest but it is currently unknown precisely when this will happen.
It could do so by Thursday, depending on conditions, causing Lane to narrowly miss the Pacific islands altogether. If it does not, Hawaii will need to batten down the hatches.
Should Lane veer towards the islands, the earliest the state could begin to see tropical storm-force winds will be on Wednesday, according to NWC meteorologist Leigh Anne Eaton.
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Reuters/Alvin Baez
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Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures A Royal Air Force Puma has been delivered to the US Virgin Islands to assist with the humanitarian efforts post Hurricane Irma. The Puma will be delivering Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief in support of the Department for International Development. Royal Air Force logisticians from RAF Brize Norton have assisted with the delivery of military personnel and aid cargo to the Caribbean to support disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Irma. RAF aircraft including, C-17 A400M and Voyager are supporting a Joint Task Force of RAF, Royal Marines, Army and RN personnel who are supporting the Department for International Development as it delivers aid to stricken Caribbean Islands.
MoD
Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Flamingos at Zoo Miami, are shown in a temporary enclosure in a hurricane resistant structure within the zoo, Saturday, 9 September 2017 in Miami. Though most animals will reman in their secure structures, the cheetahs and some birds will ride out the storm in temporary housing.
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Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Boats are seen at a marina in South Beach as Hurricane Irma arrives at south Florida, in Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. 10 September 2017
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Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Storm clouds are seen over Fisher Island as Hurricane Irma approaches on 9 September 2017 in Miami Beach, Florida. Florida is in the path of the Hurricane which may come ashore at category 4
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Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Waves crash over a seawall at the mouth of the Miami River from Biscayne Bay, Fla., as Hurricane Irma passes by. 10 September 2017
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Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Some of the damage on Saint Martin
EPA/Gerben Van Es/Dutch Department of Defence
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EPA
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Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures The Fort Louis Marina in Marigot is seen on 8 September 2017 in Saint-Martin island, devastated by Hurricane Irma.
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Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures The wreckage in Orient Bay on the island of Saint-Martin
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ABS TV
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Reuters
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Anna Mazur/AFP
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Gerben Van Es/AFP
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Kevin Barrallon/AFP
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AFP/Getty Images
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Reuters/Alvin Baez
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Jose Jimenez/Getty Images
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Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images
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AFP/Getty Images
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Guadeloupe 1ère
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Rinsy Xieng
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@la1ere
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Carole Greaux
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Météo Express
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@la1ere
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@Bondtehond
Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures A building on the Saint Martin seafront, destroyed by the hurricane
@Bondtehond
Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures A mobile home overturned at Princess Juliana International Airport in Saint Martin
@Bondtehond
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Reuters/Alvin Baez
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Reuters/Alvin Baez
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AFP/Getty Images
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Helene Valenzuela/AFP
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Lionel Chamoiseau/AFP
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Michele Eve Sandberg/AFP
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Hector Retamal/AFP
Local forecaster Justin Cruz, on Hawaiian TV station KHON2 News, has predicted Lane will pass “uncomfortably close” to the islands.
Hawaii County Civil Defence has warned citizens to ensure they and their loved ones are ready in the event that it does strike.
“Civil defence is monitoring the storm and will keep you informed of any changes that may effect your safety,” the organisation said.
“Take this time to assure that family and business emergency plans are up to date.”
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According to the US government’s National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, there is no record of a hurricane track passing within 65 nautical miles of Honolulu or Maui since Hawaii became a state in 1959.
But three have hit the western island of Kauai in that time: Hurricane Dot in 1959, Iwa in 1982 and Iniki in 1992.
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