Hurricane Lane path: How severe is the tropical storm and could it strike Hawaii?

Ominous weather front tracking west across Pacific poses potential threat to island state

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.

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.”

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.