A recent Hurricane Ana update reports of the hurricane continuing to push south of Hawaii's Big Island early Saturday morning EDT. The Hurricane Ana update said Ana will likely generate heavy rains, winds and strong waves against shorelines, prompting officials to urge caution and Hawaii residents to prepare for impact.
A flood advisory for the region only ended by midnight on Friday Hawaii time.
On Saturday morning, one of the latest Hurricane Ana update was that it has already weakened slightly, with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, according to the Weather Channel. However, there is extremely small change expected Saturday.
The center of Hurricane Ana is reportedly expected to pass south of the Hawaiian Islands, but some impacts will still be visible in the island. The National Weather Service issued a public alert and Hurricane Ana update at 2 a.m. local time Saturday morning (8 a.m. EDT) regarding outer rain bands moving onto the Big Island.
Late Saturday through Sunday, waves were expected to remain tall, cresting from 10 up to 15 feet on both the North and South shores of Hawaii.
Earlier today, a Hurricane Ana update by the National Weather Service reported that Ana had become a Category 1 hurricane when it was about 230 miles south of Hilo. Shortly before midnight, its maximum sustained winds of 85 mph were churning along its course at 13 mph.
Chris Brenchley, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Hawaii told the Associated Press of another Hurricane Ana update, saying that Ana was expected to gradually weaken to become a tropical storm again early Sunday morning.
The weather service issued a flash flood watch from Friday through Sunday, which meant possible flooding could happen statewide over the weekend, reports the Associated Press.
Heavy rain conditions are also likely to sweep up the island from east to west through the weekend, reported a Hurricane Ana update by Maui Now.
Two to eight inches of rain are reportedly expected statewide, with higher amounts of up to 12 inches in vulnerable spots possible, said a press briefing conducted by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center Friday.
Though large and hazardous surf conditions are reported to impact the Hawaiian Islands along the east, spreading westward through the weekend, the storm has had no effect on several tourists' enjoyment in a Honolulu beach Friday.
"We cannot see any threat here," said Sergei Bygchkov who is from Vancouver, Canada. "It's just a little bit rainy and that's it and a little bit windy."
On Friday morning, waves remained small on Oahu, with excited surfers even riding a few waves at Waikiki Beach.
New Hampshire tourists Kim and Adam Stocker, who were looking to find adventure west of the Big Island, also didn't let the storm interfere with their first trip to Hawaii.
"It's like 'I don't care, I'm going. Hurricane or not,'" said 49-year-old Adam Stocker. "I got the time off. It's already paid for."
Meanwhile, the Hawaii chapter of the American Red Cross has opened evacuation shelters on the Big Island to prepare for the impacts reported on the Hurricane Ana updates.
Saturday afternoon and all flights Sunday, Island Air planned to suspend its Maui and Lanai flights, but the airport remains open.
Though less rain is now expected, Oahu officials remain concerned of high surf, storm surge and flooding, said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell.
"It looks a little better, but we're still preparing for the worst," he said. "We don't want to scare anybody if unnecessary, but we want to be ready."
Another Hurricane Ana update is that the "AH - nah" is now be expected to lose power as it moves northwest along the island.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
