Strong Tropical Storm Hone expected to briefly strengthen after passing Big Island

A U.S. Air Force hurricane hunter aircraft is on its way to pay a visit to Tropical Storm Hone right now, aimed at bringing back valuable information about the storm’s intensity, structure and size that will give forecasters on the ground a better idea of what the tropical cyclone is doing.

Hurricane hunters will return later this morning, data in hand.

Hone was about 620 miles east-southeast of Hilo and 640 miles east-southeast of South Point as of 5:20 a.m. this morning, moving west at 16 mph with sustained winds of 45 mph.

The newest detail to develop overnight is that Hone now is expected to briefly become a hurricane after it moves past the Big Island at the beginning of next week.

Otherwise, much of the outlook remains the same since last night.

A tropical storm watch was issued for the Big Island last night in anticipation of Hone’s arrival. Tropical-storm-force winds extended outward from the storm’s center up to 90 miles earlier this morning.

The island will also be under a flood watch from Saturday through Monday evening, as abundant moisture from the churning tropical cyclone is expected to spread over the island beginning Saturday afternoon.

Hone is still expected to gradually strengthen during the next couple of days.

The latest forecast track continues to show it as a strong tropical storm with its center coming near to or just south of the Big Island sometime Saturday night into Sunday morning.

Once it passes by the Big Island, the storm is forecast to intensify more, reaching hurricane strength late Sunday into Monday as it moves south of Kaua‘i and O‘ahu.

It will weaken back to a tropical storm by early Tuesday as it moves west away from the state.

Winds associated with Hone will increase over the Big Island on Saturday and could become locally damaging by nightfall. Tropical storm conditions, with sustained winds higher than 39 mph, are possible Saturday night into Sunday.

The Strongest winds are forecast over island mountains, through passes and downslope from higher terrain, including in areas such as the Humuʻula Saddle, Waimea Saddle, leeward Kohala and South Point.

Persistent rainbands within the deep tropical moisture on the north side of Hone could bring excessive rainfall and flash flooding to portions of the Big Island starting Saturday afternoon and lingering through Sunday.

Hāmākua, Hilo, Puna and Kaʻū appear to have the highest risk for flash flooding. A few heavy showers and thunderstorms could persist over leeward and upslope portions of the Big Island, lasting into Monday.

Swells associated with Hone are expected to bring high surf and strong, life-threatening rip currents along east- and southeast-facing shores of the island from late Saturday through Sunday. Listen for later high surf advisories or warnings that might be issued.

Seaports in Hilo and Kailua-Kona have been set at condition Whiskey because of expected sustained gale force winds generated by Tropical Storm Hone that could arrive in the next several days.

The U.S. Coast Guard strongly cautions the maritime community to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions as Hone approaches the state.

Ports are open to all commercial traffic and transfer operations can continue during condition Whiskey. Other regulations include:

• All pleasure craft shall seek sheltered waters.
• All ocean-going commercial vessels and barges must make plans to depar the port area if they do not have U.S. Coast Guard captain of the port and Hawai’i Department of Transportation Harbors Division permission to remain.
• Commercial vessels will be required to complete cargo operations and depart the port within 60 hours after condition Whiskey is set.
• Vessels that want to remain in port must submit a safe mooring plan in writing to the captain of the port and state Harbors Division to receive permission.

Requests to remain in port can be found here. All requests should be emailed to SecHonoMTSRU@uscg.mil and the respective Harbors Division district. Additional information can be found in Annex D of the Sector Honolulu Heavy Weather, Hurricane and Tsunami Plan.

Vessels transiting around the Hawaiian Islands should seek sheltered waters until storm conditions subside and anticipate harbor closures.

If and when port condition Yankee, or when gale force winds are predicted within 24 hours, the port is closed to incoming traffic without specific approval from the the captain of the port.

The Coast Guard advises the public about these important safety messages:

• Stay off the water. The Coast Guard’s search and rescue capabilities degrade as storm conditions strengthen. Help could be delayed. Boaters should heed weather watches, warnings and small craft advisories.
• Secure belongings. Owners of large boats are urged to move their vessels to inland marinas where they will be less vulnerable to breaking free of their moorings or sustaining damage. Trailerable boats should be pulled from the water and stored in a place not prone to flooding. Those leaving their boats in the water are reminded to update their beacon’s registration and secure all devices safely to their vessel prior to a major storm. Don’t force searches for “people” who don’t exist just because your equipment that wasn’t secured correctly fell off your boat.
• Stay clear of beaches. Wave heights and currents typically increase before a storm makes landfall. Even the best swimmers can fall victim to the strong waves and rip currents caused by tropical storms and hurricanes. Stay clear of beaches until lifeguards and law enforcement say the water is safe.
• Stay informed. Monitor the progress and strength of the storm through local television, radio and internet. Boaters can monitor its progress via small craft advisories and warnings on VHF-FM Channel 16.

The next update for Tropical Storm Hone will be issued at about noon, or sooner if conditions warrant.

Watch Big Island Now for more on the storm after the next update is issued and keep an eye out on the site Saturday morning for tropical storm and hurricane preparation tips.

The islands will get a break after all is said and done once Hone marches off to the west. But there is somewhat of a caveat.

“A brief return of moderate to breezy trade winds is expected late Monday through Wednesday of next week [as] Hone tracks away from the state and Tropical Cyclone Gilma approaches the region from the east,” said the National Weather Service in its Hawai‘i area synopsis at 5:02 a.m.

Gilma is a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 115 mph and was about 1,855 east of Hilo as of 5 a.m., moving west at 8 mph.

The storm is expected to turn toward the west-northwest and speed up during the next couple of days and will remain a hurricane through much of the weekend. However, Gilma should start to weaken during the next several days.

The storm should be just a tropical depression by early Wednesday morning.