Alerts Raised in Hawaii as Hurricane Felicia Grew Into a Powerful Category 3 Storm

Hurricane Felicia developed into a powerful Major Category 3 storm. While direct consequences to Hawaii seem unlikely, people are advised to prepare for Hurricane Felicia and any other storm danger during hurricane season.

According to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center in Miami, the center of Hurricane Felicia was positioned around latitude 15.0 North, longitude 121.6 West, about 940 miles west southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, Florida.

Major Hurricane Felicia is heading west-southwest at 8 mph and is likely to continue in this direction today. The National Hurricane Center predicts a turn to the west by late tomorrow or early Saturday, with continued westward movement likely through the weekend and into early next week.

Storm Intensity

Felicia is a strong category 3 storm, with maximum sustained winds reaching 125 mph and greater gusts, according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. According to the National Storm Center, Felicia might intensify more today and could reach a category 4 hurricane later today. 962 mb (28.41′′) is the estimated lowest central pressure.

Felicia continues to be a minor tropical storm. Tropical storm-force winds reach outward up to 70 miles from the center, whereas hurricane-force winds spread outward just approximately 25 miles.

Projected Trajectory

The storm's official projected course is moving westward, bringing it closer to Hawaii. According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm will diminish over time, transitioning from a major hurricane to a normal hurricane this weekend and then to a tropical storm by early next week.

According to most computer forecast models, Felicia is expected to stay south of Hawaii, while other forecasts bring it closer to the Big Island and Maui. Even if the storm passes well to the south of Hawaii in a weakened form, it may transport precipitation north to the islands, causing flooding even if the storm itself is a complete miss.

Raised Alerts in Hawaii

Despite the fact that the storm is still far away and poses no immediate threat to Hawaii, state and municipal authorities in the state are urging residents to prepare for Felicia or any other tropical cyclone threat that may arise this season.

In a social media post, the state Emergency Management Agency stated, "HIEMA is watching Hurricane Felicia. However, it is still too early to say what impact, if any, it will have on our islands." "Hurricane Felicia, although distant from the Hawaiian Islands, is a reminder that we are still early into the 2021 Hurricane Season, and we must stay aware and prepared," the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management, which is responsible for Oahu Island, stated on social media.

Any direct or indirect consequences on Hawaii would most likely come more than a week from today.

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