Gusty winds triggered a power outage Friday afternoon in downtown Hilo.
“It was caused by an albizia tree branch that fell onto lines,” said Hawaii Electric Light Co. spokeswoman Rhea Lee-Moku.
Albizias are invasive to Hawaii, grow remarkably fast and tall, and are prone to dropping branches and toppling altogether.
“We do want customers to stay away from any down lines or hanging lines,” Lee-Moku said. “We do want customers to stay safe.”
Meteorologist Chris Brenchley with the National Weather Service in Honolulu said winds gusted to 39 mph Thursday and 37 mph Friday in Hilo.
“It looks like the pattern responsible for those conditions should be decreasing over the weekend,” he said.
At 12:48 p.m. Friday, power went out for about 1,100 customers, primarily in downtown Hilo, Lee-Moku said, including the County Building.
Stoplights went out and police asked motorists to consider all intersections to be four-way stops.
“It’s always possible when the wind speeds increase that there may be trees that topple or branches that fall,” Lee-Moku said. She urged people to continue being cautious this weekend because “trees could still fall.”
Brenchley said winds should be 10 mph Saturday, gusting to 20 mph. On Sunday, he said, they might get as high as 15 mph. Saturday should be sunny, with a chance of rain returning Sunday.
Email Jeff hansel at jhansel@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
Gusts were waaay above 20 mph in article.
Lumber does not fly around at twenty mph.
More like at 40-60 mph up on the hills AND
down on the flats.
Where were you ?
Boy howdy, you got that right. It has been windier than all get out but no warning to its true extent.