Hurricane Lane has battered the US state of Hawaii over the last few days with strong winds, heavy rainfall and flooding – but the end is now in sight.
It has now been downgraded to a tropical storm rather than a hurricane and all tropical storm watches and warnings have now been cancelled.
Hawaii remains under a flash flood watch due to the high levels of rain but the storm’s winds have reduced to 50mph now, down from 125mph on Friday.
The wet weather is likely to last until Tuesday, as drier winds are then expected from Wednesday through to next weekend, according to The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has not yet updated its travel advice to the state.
It currently states on the FCO website: “If you’re in Hawaii, you should be vigilant, take necessary precautions, monitor local news broadcasts and follow the advice of local authorities, including any evacuation orders.
“If you’re expecting to travel to/from Hawaii in the next few days, check with your airline/tour operator and accommodation provider for the latest updates on services.”
Tourists in Hawaii have scrambled to leave the islands. Fares have been capped but seats maybe be hard to find.
“Please be advised that seats on flights for the next few days remain very limited because of high load factors,” Hawaiian Airlines advised on Friday.
The airline has waved change fees for flights until 28 August. Flights that are rebooked on or before 9 September will have any difference in fare eliminated.
Alaska Airlines are allowing passengers to change flights scheduled through today. Change fees and price differences are waived for flights to and from Kauai, Kona, Maui, and Oahu.
Similarly, United Airlines has issued a travel waiver which ends today on flights scheduled to Hilo, Honolulu, Maui, Kona, and Lihue.
On Friday, Kahului Airport on the island of Maui was experiencing a power outage, resulting in United Airlines cancelling all flights in and out of the airport.
However, all airline are now at fully operational. “Please pack patience and expect crowds as the airlines make up for earlier cancellations,” local news site Maui Now advised.
Hilo Airport on Hawaii island – or Big Island – measured 31.85 inches of rain during August 22 to 24, according to The National Weather Service (NWS) Hawaii. The airport remains open.
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said Hawaii had “dodged a bullet” as he spoke at a news conference on Friday.
He said: “Mother Nature is unpredictable and this event brought us all together like never before.”
Lane was downgraded to a tropical storm only 24 hours after the cyclone was a Category 3 hurricane.
The highest level of rainfall from Lane was recorded as 44.88 inches at Waiakea Uka on Big Island yesterday.
The last time at tropical cyclone or rainstorm produced that much rain was Tropical Storm Paul in November 2000.
