Hurricane Fausto is on track to pass near Hawaii early this week. Forecasters expect it to weaken before it arrives, but the storm is worrying for anyone with a trip to the islands. Here is what travelers should know.
Where Fausto is now
As of the National Hurricane Center’s 5 p.m. Hawaii time update Saturday, Fausto was a Category 2 hurricane with 100 mph winds, centered about 1,060 miles east of Hilo and moving west at 13 mph. It was forecast to cross into the central Pacific on Sunday and weaken from there.
Will it hit Hawaii?
Probably not directly. The latest forecast track carries Fausto just north of the islands on Tuesday and Wednesday as a weakening tropical storm, with winds down around 45 mph. Forecasters say the strongest winds and heaviest rain are likely to stay offshore to the north, though a small shift in the track could change that. No coastal watches or warnings were in effect Sunday.
The main hazard: dangerous surf
The clearest impact is in the water. The hurricane center said swells from Fausto will reach the islands well ahead of the storm, building on east-facing shores of the eastern islands starting Sunday and spreading west into Monday and Tuesday. Those swells are expected to bring life-threatening surf and strong rip currents. On Oahu, state officials closed the trailhead to the Makapuu tidepools as a precaution.
What about flights?
Flights were running normally on Sunday. Hawaiian Airlines, the islands’ largest carrier, reported just one cancellation across its network Sunday, according to FlightAware, and no Hawaii airport was among those with significant delays. The airline had not issued a travel waiver for Fausto, and the U.S. Coast Guard set Port Condition Whiskey for all Hawaii commercial ports as a precaution. Anyone flying to or from the islands this week should still watch for airline alerts.
What travelers should do
Monitor your airline and the National Weather Service in Honolulu for updates.
Stay out of the water on east- and south-facing shores, and heed lifeguard and closure signs.
If you are staying in a coastal or flood-prone area, learn your evacuation zone.
Officials are urging residents to keep at least a 14-day supply of food, water and medication on hand during hurricane season.
Fausto is the first hurricane to move into the central Pacific this season. A Hurricane Hunter aircraft was scheduled to fly into the storm Sunday to sharpen the forecast.
