Janice R. Andrews
Hawaii is on high watch because Tropical Storm Hone is coming through and could bring dangerous weather. People on the Big Island have been warned of a tropical storm as Hone moves south of the Hawaiian islands. Even though it’s not likely to hit directly, the storm could still be very dangerous because it’s close.
Forecasts say that it could rain up to 10 inches on the eastern side of the Big Island, which is the main worry. This could cause flash floods and collapses, especially in places that are already weak. Because of Hone’s outer bands, smaller islands in the group may also get between 2 and 4 inches of rain this weekend.
The Big Island is likely to get winds strong enough to be called a tropical storm this evening and all through the night and into Sunday. The winds are expected to be between 25 and 40 mph, with gusts of more than 50 mph in higher places. Hone is also expected to cause dangerous rip currents and big waves, beginning on the Big Island on Saturday and moving west to affect the rest of the islands over the weekend.
While Hone is moving south of Hawaii, it’s possible that it will quickly become a hurricane. However, current predictions say it will stay over open water and eventually weaken back into a tropical storm.
On the U.S. mainland, high heat is expected to spread from the south to the Midwest this weekend, putting 25 million people under heat alerts. In most of the southern plains, the unbearable heat will last, but Texas should get some relief as the weekend goes on.
Since the heat wave is moving north, it will be very hot in the central plains and upper Midwest. Parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin, like Minneapolis, have been put on high alert for extreme heat. On Sunday and Monday, the heat index could reach 110 degrees.
The warmth will keep moving east and by midweek, it will reach the Great Lakes area and the southern U.S. Cities like Chicago, Louisville, and Atlanta are getting ready for temperatures that will be close to records. Some places could get as hot as 100 degrees.
Residents of both Hawaii and the mainland are being warned to stay informed and take the necessary safety measures to protect themselves and their neighborhoods.
