‘High Risk’ Tropical Wave Headed Toward Hawaii

AccuWeather meteorologists have issued a warning about a “high risk” tropical wave that could bring potential impacts to Hawaii this weekend—and Newsweek was told it’s not just rain they’re worried about.
The Pacific Hurricane Season—not to be mistaken with the Atlantic Hurricane Season, which typically produces storms that more frequently impact the U.S.—has seen an active season with seven named storms already. Hurricane Gilma, which formed in the Pacific on Wednesday, is the ocean’s second hurricane of the season, although the storm is unlikely to have direct impacts on land.
If the wave evolves into a tropical storm, it will be called Hector. It is currently located roughly 1,200 miles southeast of Hawaii, according to a report by AccuWeather, and the National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that the system has a high chance of evolving into a tropical storm within the next 48 hours.
“Showers and thunderstorms have changed little in organization since last night in association with a well-defined area of low pressure located well east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands,” the NHC forecast on Wednesday morning said. “However, only a slight improvement in organization could result in the formation of a tropical depression or tropical storm later today while it moves generally westward at 10 to 15 mph. This system is expected to strengthen as it moves into the central Pacific basin tonight or on Thursday and moves near the Hawaiian Islands late this weekend or early next week.”
The NHC forecasts added that Hawaii should “closely monitor” the storm, although the exact track and magnitude remain unclear.
AccuWeather meteorologists forecast that the storm will pass south of Hawaii rather than make direct landfall. The biggest threat at this point is heavy rain, with some parts of Hawaii receiving up to 4 inches from Sunday to Tuesday. Wind gusts as high as 80 miles per hour also could accompany the storm.
However, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist John Feerick told Newsweek that some parts of Hawaii, such as Maui, might experience gusty winds but no rain, which will exacerbate wildfire risk. And although winds associated with the storm could fuel wildfires, the associated rain is expected to help alleviate some of the drought currently plaguing Hawaii.
“Even a less-intense tropical storm or depression that moves directly toward the islands will raise some dry winds in advance of moisture and showers and thunderstorms,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said in the AccuWeather report. “Then once the feature’s moisture overspreads the islands, the risk of wildfires would diminish due to the wet landscape, regardless of wind intensity.”
According to AccuWeather, the last time Hawaii saw landfall from a tropical system was Olivia in September 2018.