Lane Enters Central Pacific as Category 4 Hurricane

Lane has entered the Central Pacific basin as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 130 mph.  According to the latest forecast, Lane had degraded a bit over the past few hours, with the eye clouding over and cooling.

The system currently is moving West at 16 mph with some weakening now forecast over the next few days, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

At 5 p.m. HST on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, Lane was located: 1045 miles ESE of Hilo; 1130 miles ESE of Hāna; 1160 miles ESE of Kahului; and 1265 miles ESE of Honolulu (near latitude 12.8 North, longitude 141.0 West).

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.

Forecasters with the CPHC say “Lane is forecast to pass south of the main Hawaiian Islands Wednesday and Thursday, potentially causing local impacts as it tracks west northwestward. Interests in those islands should watch the progress of Lane closely, since day 4 and 5 forecast track errors can be large.”

The 5-day forecast has Lane passing roughly 270 miles to the S of South Point on Hawaiʻi Island around mid-day on Wednesday as a weakening Category 1 Hurricane.

A more significant increase in shear late in the forecast period could result in a faster rate of weakening at days 4 and 5 according the National Hurricane Center.

Saffir-Simpson Scale
Tropical Storm – winds 39-73 mph
Category 1 – winds 74-95 mph
Category 2 – winds 96-110 mph
Category 3 – winds 111-129 mph
Category 4 – winds 130-156 mph
Category 5 – winds 157 mph and up

Hurricane Lane. 8.18.18 4:30 p.m. Satellite imagery courtesy NOAA/CPHC

Hurricane Lane forecast track. (8.18.18, 5 p.m.) PC: NOAA/CPHC

Hurricane Lane satellite imagery. (8.18.18, 5 p.m.) PC: NOAA/CPHC

Hurricane Lane wind probabilities. PC: NOAA/CPHC. 8.18.18 2 p.m.  PC: NOAA/CPHC

Hurricane Lane wind probabilities. PC: NOAA/CPHC. 8.18.18 5 p.m.  PC: NOAA/CPHC