Big Island Now: Brace for Category 4 Hurricane Dora Bringing Strong Winds and High Surf Monday through Wednesday – Hot

Updated 8 p.m. on Aug. 7: Hurricane Dora is still packing a powerful punch as a Category 4 hurricane moving 23 mph west at maximum sustained winds of 130 mph. As of 5 p.m. on Monday, it was 565 miles south-southeast of Hilo.

Original post: Hurricane Dora remains a Category 4 storm as it rapidly moves at 23 mph west across the Central Pacific with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph with higher gusts — and on a track well south of the Hawaiian Islands.

As of 5 a.m. on Monday, the center of Hurricane Dora was located near latitude 12.4 North, longitude 148.3 West, which is 675 miles southeast of Hilo, according to the National Hurricane Center.

While the storm is well south, forecasters say it will bring high winds to the Big Island and the entire state.

Breezy easterly trade winds are forecast to become strong and gusty later Monday through midweek as Hurricane Dora passes far to the south.

The National Weather Service forecast office in Honolulu has issued a High Wind Warning for Hamakua, North and South Kohala, North Kona, and Kau Districts, and the summits of Hawaii Island — and a High Wind Advisory for Hilo and Puna Districts through Wednesday.

Sustained winds of up 45 mph with gusts of over 65 mph are forecast.

The National Weather Service also has issued a Red Fire Warning from 6 a.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Because of the threat of critical fire conditions, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is putting some restrictions on vehicles and campfires in place for some portions of the park to avoid wildfires. Very dry fuels combined with strong and gusty easterly winds and low humidities below 45% will produce critical fire weather conditions through Tuesday night.

Hawaii Island residents should secure outdoor items and avoid any outdoor activities that involve the use of fire or a fire ignition source. Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

The storm also will bring dangerously high surf. The Big Island is under a high surf warning with breaking waves of 10 to 15 feet on exposed east-facing shores from 6 p.m. Monday to 6 p.m. Tuesday

Outside of a few windward showers Monday morning, very dry air arriving from the east will limit rainfall chances through Wednesday. A return of a more typical trade wind pattern is anticipated later in the week through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles.

Some slow and gradual weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours.

Residents should be prepared for potential changes should the weather situation evolve. Sign up for Everbridge messages from Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense by clicking here.

For updates and additional information, visit the Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense website.