#olivia maui

Much of Maui is closed for business on Wednesday as Maui County stands to bear the brunt of the incoming storm. Olivia has been described as an “erratic” system, shifting in track, intensity and speed over the past 24 hours. 

Olivia will be moving over the main Hawaiian Islands late Tuesday night into Wednesday. The chance for flooding rainfall will increase rapidly Tuesday night.

A Tropical Storm WARNING is now in effect for Maui County (including the islands of Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi and Kahoʻolawe) and Hawaiʻi County.

Hurricane Olivia had intensified overnight, with maximum sustained winds at 85 mph, and slowed its forward advance to 10 mph toward the west.

“Two things that concern us at a time like this are emergency fatigue and the public underestimating the threat,” said HI-EMA Administrator Tom Travis.

The latest track could bring the outer circulation of Olivia close to the Hawaiian Islands starting on Tuesday night, according to CPHC forecasters.

Olivia has weakened to a Category 1 (74-95 mph) hurricane with sustained winds near 85 mph, and the system is moving toward the west near 15 mph.