Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
Duration | July 31 – |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 155 mph (250 km/h) (1-min); 936 mbar (hPa) |
On July 28, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) indicated that a broad area of low pressure formed several hundred miles south-southeast of Acapulco, Mexico.[1] The system gradually developed over the next few days and was designated as a tropical depression early on July 31.[2] Six hours later, on August 1, the depression strengthened into a tropical storm and was given the name Hector.[3] For the next several days, Hector generally traveled west without gaining much latitude. It quickly strengthened and was near hurricane strength by 03:00 UTC on August 2.[4] At the same time, microwave imagery indicated the emergence of a mid-level eye and that rapid intensification would soon take place.[5] During the next 12 hours, Hector entered a period of rapid intensification, becoming an upper-end Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h).[6] Less favorable conditions aloft and an eyewall replacement cycle took toll on the storm and by 15:00 UTC on August 3, had weakened into a Category 1 hurricane.[7] However, once the cycle completed itself, it was upgraded into major hurricane on August 4.[8] The next day, Hector attained its initial peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h).[9] Following a series of eyewall replacement cycles, [10] the storm entered the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) on August 6.[11]
Early on August 7, Hector obtained its peak intensity of 155 mph (250 km/h), as indicated by a reconnaissance aircraft that had been investigating the storm.[12] Later on the same day, Hector weakened due to intrusion of drier air;[13] the storm was downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane on August 8,[14] shortly before making its closet approach to the Big Island.[15] Interal core changes kept Hector steady in intensity for a while,[16] before achieving a secondary peak intensity of 140 mph (220 km/h). Meanwhile, Hector reached the western edge of a strong subtropical ridge to its north, and took a turn to the west-northwest.[17] On August 11, Hector began weakening again as it began to encounter more hostile conditions.[18] Around this time, the hurricane set the record for the longest consecutive duration as a major hurricane in the East and Central Pacific.[19] Increasingly stronger wind shear disrupted the inner core of the hurricane, and Hector had fallen to Category 1 intensity early on August 12.[20]
Although forecasts depicted Hector remaining south of Hawaii, concerns were raised over the safety of residents displaced in non-hurricane proof structures by the ongoing eruption of Kīlauea.[21] A tropical storm watch was issued for Hawaii County on August 6;[22] this was later upgraded to a tropical storm warning.[23] On August 7, Hawaii County mayor Wil Okabe declared a state of emergency.[24] All absentee-walkin voting sites and Whittington, Punaluu, and Milolii Beach Parks in Hawaii County were closed.[25][26] The tropical storm warning was discontinued later that day as the inner core stayed far offshore.[27] Up to 20 ft (6.1 m) high surf was reported along the south facing shores on the Big Island.[28] Elsewhere, at least 90 people necessitated rescue on Oahu due to dangerous swells generated by the cyclone.[29]
On August 9, Johnston Atoll briefly received a tropical storm watch as Hector approached the atoll,[30][31] A few days later, a tropical storm watch was issued for portions of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument,[32] along with the waters between Kure Atoll and Midway Atoll.[33]
- ^ "NHC Graphical Outlook Archive". National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Stewart. "Tropical Depression TEN-E". National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Brown. "Tropical Storm HECTOR". National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Zelinsky. "Tropical Storm HECTOR". National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Zelinsky. "Tropical Storm HECTOR". National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Blake. "Hurricane HECTOR". National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Blake. "Hurricane HECTOR". National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Beven. "Hurricane HECTOR". National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Beven. "Hurricane HECTOR". National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Brown. "Hurricane Hector Forecast Discussion". National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Beven. "Hurricane HECTOR". National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
- ^ Wroe. "Hurricane Hector Advisory Number 26". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
- ^ Jelsema. "Hurricane Hector Discussion Number 28". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
- ^ Houston. "Hurricane Hector Advisory Number 32". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
- ^ Birchard. "Hurricane Hector Discussion Number 34". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
- ^ Houston. "Hurricane Hector Discussion Number 36". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- ^ Wroe. "Hurricane Hector Advisory Number 42". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
- ^ Wroe. "Hurricane Hector Discussion Number 43". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
- ^ Philip Klotzbach [@philklotzbach] (August 11, 2018). "Philip Klotzbach on Twitter" (Tweet). Retrieved August 11, 2018 – via Twitter.
- ^ Jelsema. "Hurricane Hector Discussion Number 48". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
- ^ Mika Miyashima (August 4, 2018). "Hawaii Island officials prepare for Hurricane Hector". KITV. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- ^ Wroe. "Hurricane Hector Advisory Number 26". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
- ^ Ballard, R. "Hurricane Hector Advisory Number 31". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
- ^ "Category 3 Hurricane Hector Nears Hawaii, Emergency Proclamation Signed". Big Island Video News. Big Island Video News. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
- ^ "Absentee walk-in voting sites closed as Hector passes". kitv. kitv. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
- ^ "Category 3 Hurricane Hector Nears Hawaii, Emergency Proclamation Signed". Big Island Video News. Big Island Video News. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
- ^ Birchard. "HURRICANE HECTOR FORECAST/ADVISORY NUMBER 34". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
- ^ "Hurricane Hector passing hundreds of miles south of Hawaiian islands". Star Advertiser. Star Advertiser. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
- ^ "Dozens rescued from south shore waters as Hector kicks up surf". Hawaii News Now. Hawaii News Now. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
- ^ Houston. "Hurricane Hector Advisory Number 37". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
- ^ Houston. "Hurricane Hector Forecast/Advisory Number 41" Central Pacific Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
- ^ Wroe. "Hurricane Hector Advisory Number 43". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
- ^ Powell. "Hurricane Hector Advisory Number 47". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 12 August 2018.