Double tropical threat looms for Hawaii this week

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

August 28,2016; 8:18PM,EDT

 

 

Hawaii is facing two tropical threats this week as Madeline and Lester churn westward.
Tropical Storm Madeline and Hurricane Lester currently only pose hazards to shipping interests over the open waters of the Pacific Ocean.
However, residents and visitors to Hawaii are being urged to closely monitor the track of both for possible impacts from midweek into Labor Day weekend.
"Sufficiently warm water and low wind shear will allow these systems to strengthen through early week as they move in the general direction of Hawaii," AccuWeather Meteorologist Ed Vallee said.

Wind shear refers to disruptive winds in the atmosphere. Strong wind shear can prevent a tropical system from developing or can shred a hurricane or tropical storm apart.
Madeline is expected to join Lester in becoming a hurricane for a time early this week.
Madeline and Lester should both weaken as they approach Hawaii and encounter stronger wind shear.
"Weakening can be expected first by Madeline the middle of the week, and then by Lester by the end of the week," Vallee said.
RELATED:
Specific details on Lester
Latest statistics on Madeline
Can tropical systems influence the spread of the Zika virus?
Despite weakening, each system will still kick up rough surf and rip currents around the Hawaiian Islands. The east-facing beaches will likely be most at risk for the highest surf and greatest risk of rip currents.
Whether more severe impacts threaten the islands will depend on the exact track of both Madeline and Lester.
A track through the islands by either or both storms would also lead to a period of potentially flooding rain, strong winds and coastal flooding. Mudslides may also occur.

If Madeline threatens Hawaii, it would be around the middle of the week. Lester would quickly follow on its heels around Labor Day weekend.
Latest indications point toward the Big Island being affected the most by Madeline as it tracks near or just to the south of the island. How close Madeline tracks will determine the extent of its heavy rain and strong winds.
Even if the center narrowly misses the Big Island to the south, heavy rain may still be a concern, especially on the north- and east-facing slopes of the mountains, as tropical moisture funnels in.
Vallee cautioned that the exact track of both is uncertain. It is possible that either or both steer away from the islands with the only impacts being to swimmers and boaters from rough surf.
All residents and visitors should continue to check back with AccuWeather as more precise details on the tracks and impacts unfold.