Posted on 08/31/2003 8:25:08 PM PDT by etcetera
Hurricane Jimena plowed across the Pacific with sustained winds of near 100 mph wind today, heading for a glancing blow on the Big Island of Hawaii with high wind, strong surf and heavy rain.
The hurricane was less than 300 miles southeast of Hilo at 2 p.m. and moving westward about 20 mph, the National Weather Service said. The hurricane was slated to pass about 50 miles offshore from South Point, late tonight or early tomorrow.
Jimena was expected to bring winds of 40 mph, with gusts to 60 mph, pouring 4 to 6 inches of rain and building surfs as high as 15 feet. Up to a foot of rain was possible in some areas, meteorologists said.
According to the National Weather Service, the following warnings and advisories are in effect as of noon:
>> A tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch for the Big Island;
>> A flash flood watch for the Big Island;
>> Small craft should remain in port on the Big Island;
>> A small craft advisory for waters east of Molokai and Lanai;
>> A high surf advisory for the south and southeast shores of the Big Island and Maui
A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours, while a storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within 24 hours.
The weather service says that low-lying and flood-prone areas on the Big Island should be avoided.
Residents are also advised to: secure trash cans, lawn furniture and other loose objects that could be blown around in heavy winds; prepare for power outages; and have flashlights, a battery-operated radio and extra batteries on hand.
The currect forecast for Jimena has it tracking westward, staying far south of the other Hawaiian islands, and slowly weakening. However, meterologists and civil defense officials advise residents to monitor news updates on the hurricane.
Updates can be found on the Web site of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center of the National Weather Service: http://www.prh.noaa.gov/pr/hnl/cphc/pages/cphc.shtml.
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