Tropical Storm Hilda will weaken to a tropical depression tonight while still threatening to bring heavy rains to East Hawaii during the next couple days, according to the National Weather Service. ADVERTISING Tropical Storm Hilda will weaken to a tropical
Tropical Storm Hilda will weaken to a tropical depression tonight while still threatening to bring heavy rains to East Hawaii during the next couple days, according to the National Weather Service.
A flash flood watch will take effect 6 p.m. tonight and may last through 6 a.m. Saturday. Heaviest rainfall is expected to hit east and south sides of the island.
Even while weakening, Hilda may produce between six and 12 inches of rainfall, with up to 18 inches possible at higher elevations.
“The big thing we’re concerned about is the rainfall potential,” said Kevin Kodama, weather service meteorologist.
Hilda’s center is forecast to pass about 100 miles to the south of the island, he said.
“There’s going to be uncertainty in the track and the effects of the system extend outward from the center,” Kodama cautioned.
A tropical storm watch remained in effect, though forecasters say there is only a 4 to 8 percent chance of tropical storm force winds hitting the island.
A high surf warning will remain in effect until Thursday morning. Large and potentially life-threatening surf along east and southeast facing shores are possible over the next couple days.
At 11 a.m., the storm was about 255 miles southeast of Hilo packing maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and moving northwest at 3 mph. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the storm’s center.
The slow forward movement of the storm is expected to continue today, with a gradual turn toward the west and an increase in the storm’s forward speed tonight through Friday.
