Hurricane Douglas is swirling off the coast of Hawaii's Maui Island as it threatens the state with high surf, powerful winds and heavy rain
HONOLULU -- Hawaii prepared for the onslaught of Hurricane Douglas on Sunday, with predictions of high winds, rain and storm surge.
“It’s definitely going to be a triple threat,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Vanessa Almanza said.
Rainfall from the storm can be anywhere from 5-15 inches (13-38 centimeters). It's "probably not a good day to go to the beach," Almanza said.
Douglas weakened Saturday to a Category 1 hurricane as it approached Hawaii, but officials warned people should not be lulled into complacency. The National Weather Service said Douglas should remain a hurricane as it moves through the islands Sunday.
“Douglas is continuing a gradual, slow, weakening trend, which in itself is good news, but the bad news is that this hurricane is going to come very close to the islands even as it’s weakening,” said Robert Ballard, the science and operations officer at the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. “And we do expect significant impacts as it makes its point of closest approach or possible landfall as it comes through.”
Authorities on Oahu and Maui sounded emergency sirens as rain fell and blustery winds swayed trees. They urged residents to shelter in place or, as last resort, to take refuge at shelters.
Oahu, Kauai and Maui were all under a hurricane warning, though a hurricane watch was canceled for the Big Island.
The hurricane was packing maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 kph) Sunday.
The National Weather Service said parts of Maui will feel the first impacts of Hurricane Douglas on Sunday morning, followed by Oahu about midday and the islands of Kauai and Niihau in the evening.
Maui officials said in a release that they will assess damage from the storm Monday.
“We know that it is weakening as it approaches, but it still will have significant impact on each island,” Hawaii Gov. David Ige said at a Saturday news conference.
State health department officials contacted each of the 625 people who were currently in isolation or quarantine as of Friday because they are either COVID-19 positive or have been in contact with someone who is. Every one of those indicated they would shelter-in-place and not seek refuge at a hurricane shelter.
“That gives a sigh of relief,” said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell.
Hawaii has some of the lowest coronavirus infection rates in the nation, but COVID-19 numbers have been rising in recent weeks. Every day since Thursday, Hawaii has reported record highs of newly confirmed cases, including 73 on Saturday.
Caldwell said at the same news conference that 13 shelters were to open at 9 a.m. Sunday around Oahu, well ahead of the hurricane impacting the island, anywhere from midday into the evening. People will have to wear face coverings to be admitted, and will have to wear them unless they are eating, drinking or sleeping.
The storm was about 55 miles (90 kilometers) northeast of Kahului on Maui before noon and 140 miles (230 kilometers) east of Honolulu Sunday, moving west-northwest at 16 mph (26 kph).
President Donald Trump issued an emergency declaration for Hawaii because of the hurricane, directing federal assistance to supplement state and local response efforts.
Hawaiian Airlines canceled all Sunday flights between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland and also between the islands.
Ige said residents should already have their 14-day emergency supply kit in place, but because of COVID-19, he encouraged people to add masks, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes.
Honolulu resident Scott Silva had supplies in hand.
“Just make sure I had enough food, you know, enough extra water, which I usually do anyway, so that’s about it,” he said. “Not expecting too much trouble from this one.”
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AP journalists Caleb Jones in Honolulu, Mark Thiessen in Anchorage, Alaska, and Julie Walker in New York contributed to this report.
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