Tropical Storm Lane to Move into Central Pacific as a Hurricane Over Weekend

August 16, 2018, 6:50 AM HST
* Updated August 16, 7:02 AM

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Tropical Storm Lane appears to be intensifying this morning, and will likely strengthen to a hurricane and move into the Central Pacific over the weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center and National Weather Service.

But at 1900 miles away from the Hawaiian Island chain, the system is still too far away to determine effects, if any, it will have on the state.

At 5 a.m. HST on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, the center of TS Lane was located 1445 miles SW of the Southern tip of Baja California within the jurisdiction of the National Hurricane Center. In relation to Hawaiʻi, the storm is located: 1935 miles ESE of Hilo; 2015 miles ESE of Hāna; 2035 miles ESE of Kahului; and 2140 miles ESE of Honolulu (near latitude 10.6 North, longitude 127.6 West).

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TS Lane is moving toward the west near 14 mph, has maximum sustained winds near 60 mph, and has tropical-storm-force winds that extend outward up to 45 miles from the center.

It’s westward motion is expected to continue for the next day or so, with a turn to the WNW forecast to occur possibly on Friday.

“The subtropical ridge to the north of Lane should continue to be the dominant steering mechanism, forcing the tropical cyclone to move westward or west-northwestward for the next several days,” according to the latest forecast discussion released by the NHC.

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Forecasters say Lane is expected to intensify in the coming days. The latest forecast track shows that by 2 a.m. HST on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2018, Lane will be around 387 miles SE of Hilo, Hawaiʻi (15.3 N, -151.5 W) with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (strong Category 2 Hurricane).

For the near-term forecast, the National Weather Service says “tropical moisture will move west across the area though the weekend. Drier air will move over the islands on Monday.”

Saffir-Simpson Scale

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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