Hurricane Madeline Approaches Hawaii (credit: NWS Honolulu, Hawaii, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the NOAA Satellite and Information Service)
Discussion: Hurricane Madeline is currently located 95 miles southeast of Hilo, Hawaii and the Big Island is already being impacted by tropical storm-force winds of 43 mph. Hurricane Madeline is currently a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, (which measures a hurricane’s maximum sustained winds) with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, as it moves off to the west-southwest at 12 mph. Madeline is forecast to pass south of the Hawaiian Islands tonight and tomorrow and will be weakening as it does so. In the satellite image below you can see the eye of the hurricane becoming less defined. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the Big Island of Hawaii and specifically in Maui County. Residents of the Big Island and Maui County should be prepared for strong winds, rough surf, and heavy rainfall that can lead to flash floods and mudslides. To learn more about other high-impact weather events from across the Central/Eastern Pacific Ocean be sure to click here!