Category 2 Norman Expected to Pass 200-300 Miles NE of Hawaiian Islands

Norman (9.6.18) 11 a.m. forecast track. PC: NOAA/NWS/CPHC

Update: 11 a.m. HST 9.6.18

Hurricane Norman is now well East of Maui and has weakened in the latest forecast update with sustained winds at 110 mph, which places it at the upper edge of a Category 2 system.

At 11 a.m. HST on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, the center of Hurricane Norman was located 295 miles ENE of Hilo; 350 miles ENE of Kailua-Kona; 355 miles ENE of South Point; 330 miles E of Hāna; 360 miles E of Kahului; 395 miles E of Kaunakakai; 390 miles E of Lānaʻi City; and 450 miles E of Honolulu (near latitude 21.4 North, longitude 150.9 West).

Norman is moving toward the NW near 9 mph and this motion is expected to continue for the next few days, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

Forecasters still expect Norman to pass 200 to 300 miles to the northeast of the main Hawaiian Islands over the next couple of days.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles, according to the CPHC.

Norman (9.6.18) 11 a.m. satellite imagery. PC: NOAA/NWS/CPHC

Tropical Storm – winds 39-73 mph (34-63 kt)
Category 1 – winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt)
Category 2 – winds 96-110 mph (83-95 kt)
Category 3 – winds 111-129 mph (96-112 kt)
Category 4 – winds 130-156 mph (113-136 kt)
Category 5 – winds 157 mph and up (137+ kt)

Previous Post: 5 a.m. HST 9.6.18

Hurricane Norman is keeping its strength and distance from the islands. The Category 3 system still had 115 mph maximum sustained winds and was moving on a path toward the WNW near 8 mph at last report.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center says the center of Norman is expected to pass 200 to 300 miles to the NE of the main Hawaiian Islands Friday through Sunday.

At 5 a.m. HST on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, the center of Hurricane Norman was located 305 miles ENE of Hilo; 365 miles E of Kailua-Kona; 360 miles ENE of South Point; 355 miles E of Hana; 385 miles E of Kahului; 420 miles E of Kaunakakai; 415 miles E of Lanai City; and 480 miles E of Honolulu (near latitude 20.7 North, longitude 150.5 West).

Norman is expected to turn toward the NW today and is forecast to continue to move toward the NW on Friday and Saturday. Forecasters with the CPHC say steady weakening is expected during the next few days.

According to the CPHC, hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.

Impacts of Norman are expected to show up in the form of large swells, which will build across the islands today. The Norman generated swells will bring large surf to the east facing shores, resulting in dangerous swimming conditions and deadly rip currents.

A High Surf Warning is in effect for the east facing shores of Maui and Molokaʻi through 6 a.m. on Friday, with surf expected to be 12 to 18 feet along affected Maui shores and 10 to 15 feet along east facing shores of Molokaʻi.

Meantime, Olivia is still far from the Hawaiian Islands, but has a chance to affect island weather next week. The system was last located about 1,160 miles WSW of the southern tip of Baja California. The Category 3 hurricane has maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and was moving toward the WNW near 15 mph. The National Hurricane Center says a gradual turn toward the west is expected over the weekend.