TRAVEL: HAWAII – Hurricane Lane bears down on Hawaii as Category 4 storm

Hurricane Lane bears down on Hawaii as Category 4 storm originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

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Hurricane Lane is taking aim at Hawaii as a Category 4 storm with fierce winds of up to 155 mph.

The storm had reached Category 5 level, but weakened early Wednesday.

A hurricane warning has been issued for the Big Island and Maui, while a hurricane watch is in place for Oahu and Kauai.

PHOTO: The path of Hurricane Lane is seen here. (ABC News)
PHOTO: The path of Hurricane Lane is seen here. (ABC News)

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(MORE: How to know when a hurricane is coming and other things you want to know about hurricanes, answered)

All public schools on the Big Island and Maui will be closed starting Wednesday until further notice, said Gov. David Ige.

Several major airlines have issued weather waivers for Hawaiian airports, in advance of any damage.

PHOTO: Vicente Rodriguez of Honolulu covers the windows of his house on August 22, 2018, as he prepares for Hurricane Lane to impact Hawaii. (Ronen Zilberman/AFP/Getty Images)
PHOTO: Vicente Rodriguez of Honolulu covers the windows of his house on August 22, 2018, as he prepares for Hurricane Lane to impact Hawaii. (Ronen Zilberman/AFP/Getty Images)
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PHOTO: Cars line up late at night to fill up with gas as Hurricane Lane approaches Honolulu, Aug. 21, 2018. (Hugh Gentry/Reuters)
PHOTO: Cars line up late at night to fill up with gas as Hurricane Lane approaches Honolulu, Aug. 21, 2018. (Hugh Gentry/Reuters)

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(MORE: How hurricanes form, explained by ABC News chief meteorologist Ginger Zee)

The path of the storm has shifted west, so a direct hit is not expected, but it could bring hurricane-force winds and waves up to 20 feet.

Hawaii could see more than 20 inches of rain over the next several days from this hurricane, which could lead to dangerous flash flooding and landslides.

The storm is expected to remain a Category 4 into Thursday, before rapidly weakening will begin once it reaches the cooler water near the islands.

Hurricane Lane will pass near Maui and Oahu as a Category 2 which could still bring hurricane conditions to those areas on Friday before it weakens further to a tropical storm and moves out to sea on Saturday.

(MORE: 2018 Atlantic hurricane season is now underway: What experts say is in store)

Though the forecast may change, federal emergency preparations are underway.

“What is certain is that Hawaii is going to be impacted and see torrential rains in the next couple of days,” FEMA Administrator Brock Long said at a news conference Wednesday.

Hurricane Lane is a Category 5 storm on Wednesday morning. (ABC News)
Hurricane Lane is a Category 5 storm on Wednesday morning. (ABC News)

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It’s rare for hurricanes to hit Hawaii because an area of high pressure that sits to the northeast of the islands steers the hurricanes away. This high pressure is the strongest from May through October, which is also prime hurricane season.

Hawaiian islands are also surrounded by cool water and tropical cyclones need ocean water temperatures to exceed 80 degrees to strengthen.

On record, there are only two hurricanes that have made landfall in Hawaii and both were on Kauai: Category 1 Dot hit in 1959 and catastrophic Category 4 Iniki came ashore in 1992.

In 1982, Category 1 Iwa made a major impact on Kauai, but because its eye did not hit the island, it wasn’t counted as officially making landfall there.

ABC News’ Gio Benitez and Christine Theodorou contributed to this report.

MAX GOLEMBO, EMILY SHAPIRO and MELISSA GRIFFIN
Good Morning America
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