Hurricane Kiko Hawaii: Storm expected to make closest approach to holiday destination next week - will it be dangerous?
Hurricane Kiko, which has rapidly intensified into a Category 4 cyclone over the open Pacific, is threatening US state Hawaii.
As of Thursday, Kiko was still over 1,200 miles east-southeast of Hawaii and expected to commence a significant weakening process over the weekend. Due to error rates associated with forecasting hurricanes, the Big Island did fall underneath the five-day forecast cone, but meteorologists caution that Kiko will be a completely different storm when it approaches the islands.
Several factors, including cool sea surface temperatures, hostile upper-level winds and dry air, will in essence act as a barrier between the hurricane and the islands, only resulting in limited impacts. Satellites estimate that sea surface temperatures between the hurricane and the Big Island of Hawaii are in the mid-70s, which is considered cooler than what a cyclone typically needs for strengthening.
Based on the forecast cone, rough seas and occasional showers look to be nearly a guarantee, with the possibility of increasing impacts if the cyclone were to take a more southern route. Forecasters and computer models should get a better handle on the synoptic scenario after Hurricane Hunters sample the storm on Sunday.
According to The Weather Channel, the storm is likely to bring higher surf and some rainfall to Hawaii from Hilo to Kauai beginning as early as late Monday. The exact impacts for Hawaii will become more clear through this weekend.