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Hurricane heads for Hawaii
13/08/2007 13:41 - (SA)
Honolulu - Hurricane Flossie churned toward Hawaii with 217kph winds early on Monday, but forecasters predicted the Category 4 storm would weaken before passing by the islands.
The hurricane was expected to pass about 100km south of the island of Hawaii late on Tuesday or early on Wednesday, but by then cooler water should weaken it to a Category 1 hurricane, with winds of at least 119kph.
However, forecasters warned that even a slight change of course in the unpredictable storm could bring it closer to land.
On Monday morning, Flossie was about 940km east-southeast of Hilo, and had maximum sustained wind near 217kph.
Emergency workers mobilised on Sunday afternoon to prepare for the potentially devastating hurricane, Big Island Mayor Harry Kim said.
"You always prepare for the worst case scenario and hope for the best," Kim said.
Two Air Force WC-130 hurricane tracker aircraft were dispatched from Mississippi and flew into the storm to gather measurements on Sunday afternoon, said Roy Matsuda, lead forecaster at the Honolulu office of the National Weather Service.
Even though the eye of the storm may miss the Hawaiian islands, Flossie could still bring strong wind and heavy rain to the islands, forecasters said.
- AP
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