According to Reuters, the NHC said Hurricane Iselle was about 1,700 kilometres east-southeast of Hawaii, moving west at 15 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 200 kilometers per hour.
An advisory by the Miami-based weather forecaster said, 'Watches may be required for portions of the islands by later today or early Wednesday.'
State Civil Defense and Hawaii Emergency Management Agency spokesman Brian Miyamoto said that on Thursday afternoon, Hurricane Iselle is expected to weaken to a tropical storm when. He added that Hurricane Iselle will afterwards sweep over the remaining islands.
Because authorities in Honolulu have advised residents to prepare a seven-day disaster supply kit, residents have already stocked up on the basics.
In line with the preparations the residents are doing for Hurricane Iselle and Tropical Storm Julio, Miyamoto said 'tropical storms are nothing to laugh at.' There's still a likely chance that both cyclones will bring heavy rains and sustained winds of up to 80kmh.
On Monday, officials said, 'With Hawaii's remoteness, it could be as long as a week before a full disaster relief operation can be initiated.'
Hurricane Iselle was expected to turn west-northwest later on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the NHC. They added that the forecast for Hurricane Iselle will likely weaken over the next 48 hours.
The NHC also reported on Tropical Storm Julio, reports Reuters. Julio is currently moving at 1,845 kilometres from Baja California in Mexico. It is also expected to continue moving west-northwest till Thursday
Julio is moving at 20 kilometres an hour and has maximum sustained wind speeds of 95 kilometres per hour. Though Julio's activities are more uncertain than Hurricane Iselle, Miyamoto said it could hit Hawaii by Sunday.
Despite the warnings and many residents scrambling for basic supplies, others are still not too worried over Hurricane Iselle and Tropical Storm Julio. Cyclones in the Pacific have historically and the island of Hawaii is considered only a small target in the ocean.
In a 2002 report by the U.S. Geological Survey, it is said that 'actual hurricane strikes on the Hawaiian Islands are relatively rare in the modern record.'
The report also said that 'More commonly, near-misses that generate large swell and moderately high winds causing varying degrees of damage are the hallmark of hurricanes passing close to the islands.'
Hurricane Iselle and Tropical Storm Julio are rare. However, they are still not unexpected in years with a developing El Niño, since the changes in ocean temperature greatly affect weather around the world.
In 2007, Hawaii was washed over by Hurricane Flossie, causing very little damage. In 2009, a Hurricane Neki also did only minor damage northwest of the islands.
Meanwhile, state officials are still vocal in expressing their seriousness over Hurricane Iselle and Tropical Storm Julio. They said that even if Hurricane Iselle and Tropical Storm Julio does change course, there still remains risks.
Hurricane Iselle was a Category 3 hurricane yesterday, but was expected to weaken while nearing Hawaii, reports the National Hurricane Center. On the other hand, Tropical Storm Julio may strengthen to hurricane force if it makes landfall, reports CNN.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
