FELICIA DOWNGRADED TO DEPRESSION: 150 MILES EAST OF KAHULUI

OVERVIEW 8/11/09 Monday 4:45 a.m. HST:

Felicia was downgraded this morning from a Tropical Storm to a Tropical Depression.  The system was last tracked at 150 miles east of Kahului, Maui and traveling toward the west near 10 mph.  Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts.  Rain and wind bands began sweeping across the county overnight and the center of the storm is expected to pass near Maui this (Tuesday) afternoon.

(Click to enlarge image. Graphic courtesy NWS, NOAA & The National Hurricane Center)

The county began opening ten shelters across Maui, Molokai and Lanai at 10 o’clock last tonight (Monday, August 10, 2009). Shelters staffed by the American Red Cross on Maui include Hana School Gym, War Memorial Gym, Kihei Community Center, Lahaina Civic Center, Eddie Tam Gym, Makawao Community Center, and the Haiku Community Center; on Molokai there’s shelters at Molokai High School Gym, and the Mitchell Pauole Community Center; and on Lanai, the lone shelter is at the Lanai High School Gym.  Pet services will be available at all Maui Island shelters, but pets must be contained in pet carriers.

All public schools WILL BE OPEN today, on Tuesday, August 11. There is only one charter school that will be closed:  Kua O ka La school in (Pahoa).  Again, all public schools will remain open on Tuesday, August 11, 2009.

County officials also announced a number of closures and cancellations in conjunction with anticipated weather conditions.

All County of Maui parks, the Waiehu Golf Course, County campgrounds and swimming pools will be closed on Tuesday and facilities are scheduled to remain closed Wednesday as well.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources closed the following state parks for Tuesday:  Waianapanapa, Kaumahina Wayside, Pua’a Ka’a, Polipoli springs, Makena State Park, Kula Forest Reserve and Waihou Spring Forest Reserve.  The ‘Iao Valley state park will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

FELICIA 150 MILES EAST OF KAHULUI, WINDS 35 MPH

(Updated:  4:45 a.m. HST Tuesday, August 11, 2009)

Felicia was downgraded this morning from a Tropical Storm to a Tropical Depression.  The system was last tracked at 150 miles east of Kahului, Maui and traveling toward the west near 10 mph.  Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts.  Rain and wind bands began sweeping across the county overnight and the center of the storm is expected to pass near Maui this (Tuesday) afternoon.

A tropical storm watch remains in effect for Oahu and for all of Maui County, which includes the islands of Maui, Kahoolawe, Lanai, and Molokai. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case within the next 24 hours.

At 4:45 am HST, the center of tropical storm Felicia was located about 150 miles east of Kahului, Hawaii and about 245 miles east of Honolulu, Hawaii (near latitude 20.9 north…longitude 154.1 west).

Felicia is moving toward the west near 10 mph and this motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days.  The center of Felicia is expected to reach the Hawaiian Islands on Tuesday with rain-bands in advance of the center reaching the islands overnight.

Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Felicia is expected to weaken over the next 48 hours.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 100 miles from the center.

Estimated minimum central pressure is 1007 mb…29.74 inches.

A large swell generated by Felicia has reached the main Hawaiian Islands. The swell will build across the state through Tuesday.   Also, regardless of the intensity of Felicia when it reaches the Hawaiian Islands, locally heavy rainfall may occur and flash flooding remains a possibility.

(Updated:  4:45 a.m. HST Tuesday, August 11, 2009 by Wendy Osher, Information provided by Forecaster CRAIG with the NWS, Central Pacific Hurricane Center)