Hurricane Barbara Has Likely Peaked in Intensity

By Wendy Osher

HURRICANE BARBARA – UPDATE (July 3, 2019, 8 a.m. HST)

Hurricane Barbara remains a powerful Category 4 system on Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, and has started to weaken according to the latest advisory issued by the National Hurricane Center this morning.

As of 8 a.m. HST, the eye of Barbara was located about 1890 miles East of Hilo Hawaiʻi.

Monitoring of the system will shift to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center when the system has passed the longitude of 140 W.  According to the latest forecast discussion issued by the NHC, Barbara is expected to “degenerate” into a post-tropical low by the time the cyclone moves into the Central Pacific basin on Saturday.

The forecast discussion also notes that Barbara has probably peaked in intensity, “although another increase in strength tonight during the convective maximum period is a distinct possibility.”

The NHC reports that Barbara is currently moving toward the WNW near 10 mph, with maximum sustained winds near 145 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles, according to the forecast.

The agency reports that some weakening is forecast during the next two days, with the system expected to drop back to tropical storm status on Friday.  By early Monday morning, Barbara may become a depression as it comes within approximately 960 miles of the state.

This is the second named system in the Eastern Pacific so far this Hurricane season.   The Pacific Hurricane Season in Hawaiʻi lasts from June through November.

Earlier this month the Hawai’i Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) reminded all residents that now is the time to prepare for a potential hurricane event, and noted that all family emergency kits should have a minimum of 14 days of food, water, and other supplies.

Maui Now Meteorologist Malika Dudley has a comprehensive emergency kit list and demonstration video for those who want to know more about how to put one together.

(7.3.19, 5 a.m.) PC: NOAA/NHC