Tropical Cyclones Lester, Hermine Take Aim at U.S.
Just a day after Tropical Storm Madeline impacted the Big Island of Hawaii, residents are preparing for a second tropical cyclone approaching the island state. As of September 1, a Hurricane Watch remains in effect for Hawaii and Maui Counties as Hurricane Lester moves toward the Hawaiian Islands (PDC WeatherWall).
On Thursday (1100 HST), Lester is located about 680 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii, with maximum sustained winds at 110 miles per hour (CPHC Advisory #33). Hurricane conditions and heavy rains are expected to being affecting Hawaii and Maui Counties by Saturday, with other islands possibly impacted through Sunday.
Hurricane Lester is forecast to track northeast of the Hawaiian Islands, but the Central Pacific Hurricane Center advises that a small leftward shift in the track could “directly and profoundly affect the state (CPHC Discussion #33).
After forming in the Gulf of Mexico on August 31, Hurricane Hermine is expected to make landfall in Florida—the first hurricane to do so in 11 years—by early Friday morning (local time) (NASA, PDC WeatherWall). As of September 1 (2000 CDT), Hermine is located about 105 miles west-southwest of Cedar Key, Florida, with maximum sustained winds at 80 miles per hour (NHC Advisory #18A).
Current Hazard Warnings
Tropical Cyclone: Lester (Eastern Pacific), Hermine (Gulf of Mexico), Gaston (Atlantic), Namtheun (Western Pacific)
Flood: India, Sudan, South Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Honduras, Bangladesh
High Surf: Hawaii
Earthquake: Papua New Guinea, New Zealand
Wildfire: United States (California)
Drought: United States (Western, Southern, Northeastern)
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