With Hawaii still reeling from the effects of Hurricanes Lala and Lowell, yet another cyclone, Tropical Storm Norbert, has formed off the coast of Mexico and is forecast to intensify and track westward toward the islands.
Norbert could become a hurricane later this weekend or early next week. The storm was about 2,300 miles east of the Big Island on Thursday and any potential impacts would likely not occur for more than a week, according to forecasters.
“There is plenty of time to monitor how this storm evolves,” said AccuWeather hurricane forecaster Alex DaSilva. “There is no immediate threat to the islands, but given the recent flurry of tropical activity around Hawaii in the past month alone, residents should continue to monitor Norbert’s progress over the coming days.”
Norbert isn’t the only disturbance brewing in the Pacific, however, with forecasters monitoring two additional potential weather threats.
The first, Disturbance 1, a low-pressure system in the Central Pacific well south-southeast of the islands, is producing showers and thunderstorms over the open ocean.
“Some gradual development of this system is possible late this week and into the weekend while it moves generally northward and then meanders to the southeast of the Hawaiian Islands,” National Hurricane Center forecasters wrote.
Forecasters rate the probability of the disturbance becoming a cyclone in the next two days as 20% with a 30% chance in the next week.
The second, Disturbance 2, is a broad area of low pressure to the south-southeast of Norbert, several hundred miles southwest of the southwestern Mexico coast.
“Gradual development of this system is expected, and a tropical depression is likely to form by early next week while it moves generally west-northwestward over central and western portions of the East Pacific,” NHC forecasters wrote.
Chances of the storm becoming a cyclone are just 10% in the next two days, according to forecasters, but much higher in the next week, at 70%.
According to the National Weather Service in Honolulu’s newly released monthly precipitation report, 13 locations across Hawaii Island recorded their wettest August ever, with rainfall totals swelled by the torrents from Hurricane Lala. Several other Big Island spots reported their second wettest August, with rainfall totals exceeded only by the torrential rainfall dropped by Hurricane Lane in August 2018.
“This one system dropped enough rain in a couple of days to cause most stations statewide to come in well above average for August,” said NWS Honolulu hydrologist Tina Stall. “Additionally, for most places, this storm accounted for a significant percentage or nearly all of their monthly rainfall.”
In Ka‘u, which bore the brunt of the destruction wrought by Lala, Lower Kahuku reported 28.86 inches of rain, more than five times its average August total. Kapapala Ranch received its highest recorded August total with 27.65 inches, eight-and-a-half times its usual August rainfall. Pahala — where road and other infrastructure damage caused temporary isolation from the rest of the island — recorded 25.08 inches, more than seven times its usual August rainfall. And Ka Lae, also known as South Point, was another spot that received its highest recorded August rainfall total, 14.84 inches, almost six times its August norm.
On the windward side of the island, Hilo International Airport set a daily record for Aug. 15 with 6.82 inches, eclipsing its previous record of 5.1 inches set in 1969. That single day accounted for more than a quarter of its 20.85 inches for the month, which is almost twice its usual August total. Hakalau, to the north of Hilo, tallied 40.29 inches for the month, almost six times its usual August rainfall. Glenwood, in the upper Puna rainforest, was slightly wetter, with 40.72 inches, more than twice its customary August total. And Honokaa received 27.25 inches, more than four times its August norm.
Leeward spots received less rainfall but their August totals were still above monthly averages.
Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport in Keahole recorded rainfall of two inches even for the month. While that might not sound like much, its almost four times its August norm of just over a half-inch.
The Kona coffee belt, which has its rainy season in the summer, recorded higher than average totals at all four of its official gauges with Kainaliu at 9.25 inches, Kealakekua at 8.61 inches, Honaunau at 8.19 inches and Waiaha at 8.08 inches.
And in Kohala, where double-digit monthly rainfall totals are rare, Kahua Ranch experienced its wettest August with 14.28 inches, the Waimea upper gauge recorded 17.48 inches and the Waimea plain gauge tallied 10.35 inches — August rainfall records for both Waimea locations.
Email John Burnett at john.burnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
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