Friday, August 23, 2024 This year’s Atlantic hurricane season has been notably active, but now the focus has shifted to the Pacific, where a significant hurricane is developing and could impact Hawaii as early as this weekend. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reports that Hurricane Gilma has intensified into a major hurricane, currently gaining strength over the open waters of the East Pacific. Moving slowly towards the west-northwest at 6 mph, Gilma’s winds have reached up to 115 mph, making it a Category 3 hurricane located about 2,000 miles east of Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Concerns are rising over the potential impact on Hawaii as Gilma approaches. Although the NHC has yet to issue a specific forecast for Hawaii, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Honolulu is closely monitoring the situation. The NWS expects Gilma to strengthen over the next few days and move near the Hawaiian Islands late this weekend or early next week.
While it’s still too early to determine the storm’s exact path and impact, Hawaiian residents and visitors should stay alert. If Gilma approaches, the islands could experience wind gusts up to 50 mph and heavy rainfall. Due to the uncertainty of Gilma’s path and intensity, no major airlines have issued travel waivers for Hawaii this weekend.
The forecast remains fluid, and changes could occur quickly in the coming days..
