FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ Hurricane Lane, a powerful Category 4 storm in the Pacific Ocean, is a threat to the Hawaiian Islands, forecasters say.
Lane, which is packing winds as high as 150 mph, is churning west in the Pacific, but forecasters expect it to start turning toward the northwest, putting the Hawaiian islands in its probable path.
Lane's center is predicted to pass close to the island of Hawaii, also known as the "Big Island," and Maui, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.
A hurricane watch has been issued for Hawaii and Maui counties. In this case, the watch means that at least tropical storm-force winds are expected within 48 hours.
More hurricane watches were expected to be issued for other Hawaiian islands, said the Honolulu-based hurricane center. Honolulu, the state's largest city and capital, is on the island of Oahu.
While Lane's strength is expected to weaken slightly upon its approach to the Hawaiian Islands, it was still expected to remain a dangerous hurricane. Beyond its wind strength, the storm was also expected to be a rainmaker through the weekend, bringing the risk of flooding and landslides.
"Lane is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 10 to 15 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches over the Hawaiian Islands," the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said.
Meanwhile, the Atlantic tropics remain quiet, with nothing expected to develop over the next five days, said forecasters at the Miami-based National Hurricane Center.
