Hurricane Lane entered the Central Pacific on Saturday as a powerful Category 4 major hurricane.

As rated on the Saffir-­Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, a Category 4 hurricane carries maximum sustained winds between 130 and 156 miles per hour.

As of 5 p.m. Saturday, the storm was located 1,045 miles east-southeast of Hilo, moving west at 16 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Serv­ice. Maximum sustained winds were measured at 130 mph, with hurricane-­force winds extending outward up to 25 miles and tropical-storm-force winds extending up to 105 miles.

Forecasters at the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu predicted that after several days of rapid intensification, Lane likely will weaken over the next few days as it begins to move west-northwest.

Lane is the sixth major storm of the 2018 Pacific hurricane season, which runs through November.

The National Weather Serv­ice said it is still too early to determine Lane’s potential impact on local weather.

In the meantime, a low-level trough was expected to bring unstable air, showers and isolated thunderstorm activity today. Drier conditions will return Monday and Tuesday as more stable air moves in from the east, the weather service reported. </s> Hurricane Lane intensifies to a Category 4 storm in the Pacific

Hurricane Lane grew to a Category 4 storm on Saturday as it moved closer to the Central Pacific basin, the National Hurricane Center said. As of 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, Lane was located 1,135 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.

The maximum sustained winds are 140 mph and hurricane-force winds can be felt 25 miles from the center of the storm, the National Hurricane Center said. Lane is moving west-northwest at about 15 mph, and it is expected to lose power as it continues west-northwest over the next few days.

The current forecast track has it passing south of Hawaii’s Big Island, CBS Honolulu affiliate KGMB reports.

There have already been strong storms in the Pacific Ocean in 2018, and the Pacific Ocean off San Diego hit a record high this month, CBS News’ Jamie Yuccas reports. While hurricanes are virtually unheard of in California, there’s now the potential this rare event could strike the San Diego area again.

“It could happen, especially if the ocean temperatures continue to stay in this anomalously warm state,” said Art Miller, an oceanographer.

Scientists at the Scripps Pier have been recording historic temperatures in the Pacific Ocean as high as 79.5 degrees. That’s about 10 degrees above normal. </s> Hurricane Lane maintained its Category 3 intensity overnight, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph, and is still expected to pass south of the islands this week.

Hurricane Lane maintained its Category 3 intensity overnight, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph, and is still expected to pass south of the islands this week.

At 5 a.m. today, Lane was about 890 mile east-southeast of Hilo and 1,100 miles east-southeast of Honolulu, traveling west at 15 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Hawaii.

Forecasters said that a “large swell generated by Lane is expected to reach the southeast- and east-facing shores of the Big Island, and possibly east-facing shores of Maui, by this evening,” producing large and dangerous surf by tonight or early Monday.

Lane has intensified quickly since forming in the East Pacific last week. It entered the Central Pacific Saturday as a Category 4 hurricane but has since weakened slightly. That weakening is expected to continue over the next five days, forecaster said. However, Lane will likely remain a powerful hurricane through Monday night.

Hurricane-force winds extend up to 25 miles from Lane’s center and tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 105 miles, the hurricane center said early this morning.

“Lane is forecast to pass south of the main Hawaiian islands Wednesday and Thursday, potentially causing local impacts as it tracks west-northwestward,” forecasters said. “Interests in those islands should watch the progress of Lane closely, since long-range forecast track and intensity errors can be large.”

The five-day forecast calls for the storm to be a Category 1 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, by Friday when it is expected to be hundreds of miles southwest of Oahu, according to the hurricane center. </s> Hurricane Lane is barreling west across the Pacific Ocean on a course that will bring it close to Hawaii next week. With winds of 100 mph, Lane is now a Category 2 hurricane on a scale of one to five. It is now expected to reach Category 4, with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph this weekend.

“Lane’s cloud pattern has improved significantly this morning, and the cyclone is currently undergoing rapid intensification,” the National Hurricane Center writes in its latest update.

Rapid intensification is defined as an increase in wind speeds of at least 35 mph over the course of 24 hours. With the increase in wind speed also comes a decrease in central pressure. Rapid intensification has been a frequent occurrence in all tropical cyclone basins of late, and was seen on numerous occasions during the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season.

“Lane appears poised for further rapid strengthening during the next 24 hours,” the Hurricane Center added. “Impressive outflow in all quadrants, warm [sea surface temperatures], and the absence of earlier noted dry air intrusion all point to this scenario.”

During its closest pass to Hawaii, the Hurricane Center now brings the center of Lane within 250 miles of the southern shore of the Big Island. However, within the storm’s cone of uncertainty (below), the storm’s northern edge is only about 65 miles offshore.

The Hurricane Center says there is up to a 10 percent chance hurricane-force winds buffet the south shores of the Big Island.

With Lane still several days away, National Weather Service forecast office in Honolulu concludes, “It is too soon to know if Lane will directly affect the Hawaiian Islands.”

Direct impacts like wind and rain are only one aspect of an extreme storm like Lane. Large waves are increasingly likely to batter parts of Hawaii as it passes. The Big Island is set to face the brunt, with swells approaching or surpassing 15 feet possible on its southern and eastern facing shoreline.

The increased swell aspect is a long-duration event, with high wave heights expected from at least Monday through Thursday.

Lane comes on the heels of Hurricane Hector, which nearly reached Category 5 strength in its run by Hawaii earlier this month. That was part of a 4,200-mile journey across the Pacific. Although Lane is south of where Hector was at this point in its life, Lane may end up taking a similar path.

As Capital Weather Gang’s tropical weather expert Brian McNoldy pointed out, Hector was a rare tropical cyclone to be named in all three basins of the Pacific. It’s not impossible Lane could try to follow those footsteps.

Although both Hector and Lane may be somewhat odd on their own, in many hurricane seasons we see similar weather patterns dominate for much of the summer and fall. The extreme 2017 Atlantic hurricane season was a recent example. While any of the mega hurricanes and their tracks may have been peculiar, the unrelenting pattern conducive to the parade of storms remained in place for weeks.

Hurricane Lane is part of tropical cyclones that have tracked closer to Hawaii than common in the recent past. Increases in the availability of warm water and favorable atmospheric conditions are attributes of climate change which may be facilitating the increased frequency of close passes there.

Although Hawaii has been lucky to escape a direct hit from any of these major hurricanes in recent years, it is already seeing higher tides and increased flooding during these events, and it is something we could see from Lane even if it stays well offshore. </s> Hurricane Lane grew to a Category 4 storm on Saturday, but then weakened Sunday morning to a Category 3 as it moved closer to the Central Pacific basin, the National Hurricane Center said. As of 11 a.m. ET Sunday, Lane was located 885 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.

The storm's maximum sustained winds are 120 mph, and it's moving west at about 15 mph. Forecasters say Lane is expected to lose power as it continues west-northwest over the next few days.

The current forecast track has it passing south of Hawaii's Big Island, CBS Honolulu affiliate KGMB reports.

There have already been strong storms in the Pacific Ocean in 2018, and water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego hit a record high this month. While hurricanes are virtually unheard of in California, conditions could potentially raise the threat.

This graph shows the projected path of Hurricane Lane on Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

"It could happen, especially if the ocean temperatures continue to stay in this anomalously warm state," said Art Miller, an oceanographer.

Scientists at the Scripps Pier have been recording historic temperatures in the Pacific Ocean as high as 79.5 degrees. That's about 10 degrees above normal.

Jamie Yuccas contributed to this report. </s> Hurricane Lane grew to a Category 4 storm on Saturday as it moved closer to the Central Pacific basin, the National Hurricane Center said. As of 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, Lane was located 1,135 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.

The maximum sustained winds are 140 mph and hurricane-force winds can be felt 25 miles from the center of the storm, the National Hurricane Center said. Lane is moving west-northwest at about 15 mph, and it is expected to lose power as it continues west-northwest over the next few days.

The current forecast track has it passing south of Hawaii's Big Island, CBS Honolulu affilite KGMB reports.

There have already been strong storms in the Pacific Ocean in 2018, and the Pacific Ocean off San Diego hit a record high this month, CBS News' Jamie Yuccas reports. While hurricanes are virtually unheard of in California, there's now the potential this rare event could strike the San Diego area again.

"It could happen, especially if the ocean temperatures continue to stay in this anomalously warm state," said Art Miller, an oceanographer.

Scientists at the Scripps Pier have been recording historic temperatures in the Pacific Ocean as high as 79.5 degrees. That's about 10 degrees above normal. </s> UPDATE: 12:05 a.m. Sunday

Hurricane Lane, a powerful Category 3 storm, is moving west in the Central Pacific on a path that will take it south of the Hawaiian islands later this week.

Lane is packing maximum sustained winds of 125 mph with higher gusts and was about 1,180 miles east-southeast of Hilo moving west at 16 mph as of late Saturday night. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from Lane’s center and tropical-storm-force winds of 39 mph or more extend up to 105 miles, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Hawaii.

The storm is forecast to follow a similar path as Hurricane Hector which passed safely south of Hawaii earlier this month.

The five-day forecast for Lane calls for it to weaken to tropical-storm strength south of the islands by midweek.

“Lane is forecast to pass south of the main Hawaiian islands Wednesday and Thursday, potentially causing local impacts as it tracks west-northwestward,” forecasters said at 11 p.m. Saturday. “Interests in those islands should watch the progress of Lane closely, since long-range forecast track and intensity errors can be large.”

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5 p.m. Saturday

Hurricane Lane moved into the Central Pacific this afternoon as a category 4 hurricane.

Lane is located 1,050 miles east-southeast of Hilo and 1,260 miles east-southeast of Honolulu. It has maximum sustained winds at 130 mph and is moving toward the west at 16 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center.

A motion between west and west-northwest with some decrease in forward speed is expected over the next few days.

11 a.m.

Hurricane Lane is expected to cross into the Central Pacific basin in the next few hours.

The category 4 hurricane is located 1,135 miles east-southeast of Hilo with winds at 140 mph. Lane is moving toward the west-northwest near 15 mph. A motion between west and west-northwest with some decrease in forward speed is expected over the next few days.

6:19 a.m.

Hurricane Lane continued to strengthen this morning, now packing maximum sustained winds of up to 140 mph with higher gusts.

As of 5 a.m. Hawaii time, Lane was located 1,230 miles east of Hilo and forecasted to reach the Central Pacific basin later today. Forecasters are predicting little change to Lane’s strength today and a gradual weakening beginning Sunday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the eye of the hurricane and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.

Check back this afternoon for another update.

FRIDAY, AUG. 17

11 p.m.

Hurricane Lane has strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane as it continues to head toward the Central Pacific, the National Weather Service said in its latest report.

Lane was last located 1,310 miles east-southeast of Hilo and moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph. It is expected to move either west or west-northwest with a small decrease in forward speed.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 130 mph with higher gusts. It’s possible winds may strengthen even more this weekend, but a gradual weakening is forecast after.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.

5:15 p.m.

The eye of Hurricane Lane has become better defined as the storm tracks westward at 16 mph, the National Weather Service said.

The eye is about 1,405 miles east-southeast of Hilo with 120 mph sustained winds and higher gusts.

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale for Hawaii is a 1 to 5 categorization based on the hurricane’s intensity. >> Tropical Storm: winds 39-73 mph >> Category 1: winds 74-95 mph >> Category 2: winds 96-110 mph >> Category 3: winds 111-129 mph >> Category 4: winds 130-156 mph >> Category 5: winds 157 mph and up

The storm was expected to strengthen over the next 12 hours, becoming a category 4 hurricane tonight or Saturday. Beyond that, the intensity of the storm is expected to fluctuate over the weekend.

Currently, hurricane-force winds are extending 25 miles outward with tropical storm-force winds reaching up to 105 miles from the center.

Forecasters predict Hurricane Lane will cross into the central Pacific basin on Saturday with its probable path showing the storm passing to the south of the islands.

1:10 p.m.

As Hurricane Lane is forecasted to possibly strengthen into a Category 4 hurricane on Saturday, it’s uncertain whether it will have any direct impacts to the main Hawaiian Islands when it crosses into the Central Pacific, according to the National Weather Service.

It is too soon to say, said forecaster Derek Wroe adding they will have a better handle on any possible impacts later in the weekend.

The public is reminded to have a hurricane plan in place and emergency supply kit readily on hand. “We’re in the peak of the hurricane season now,” he added.

11 a.m.

Hurricane Lane continues to rapidly grow stronger and remains on track to become a major hurricane tonight.

Packing maximum sustained winds of 110 mph, Lane was located about 1,505 miles east-southeast of Hilo at 11 a.m. and was heading west at 16 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Weather officials expect Lane to keep getting stronger over the next 24 hours, possibly becoming a Category 4 hurricane on Saturday.

Lane is expected to track between a west and west-northwest trajectory and cross into the Central Pacific on Saturday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from Lane’s center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.

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Lane got significantly stronger overnight, strengthening into a Category 2 hurricane.

Now packing maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, Hurricane Lane was located 1,590 miles east-southeast of Hilo at 5 a.m. today and was moving west at 16 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Weather officials expect Lane to become a major hurricane tonight and to move west or west-northwest over the next few days.

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale for Hawaii is a 1 to 5 categorization based on the hurricane’s intensity. The scale provides examples of the type of impacts associated with wind intensity.

>> Tropical Storm: winds 39-73 mph (34-63 kt)

>> Category 1: winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt)

>> Category 2: winds 96-110 mph (83-95 kt)

>> Category 3: winds 111-129 mph (96-112 kt)

>> Category 4: winds 130-156 mph (113-136 kt)

>> Category 5: winds 157 mph and up (137+ kt)

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from Lane’s center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles. </s> Hurricane Lane will pass south of Hawaii’s Big Island next week as it tracks across the Pacific Ocean. The storm developed into a Category 4 hurricane on Saturday as it moved closer to the Central Pacific basin, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. As of 11pm HST (10am BST) on Saturday, the storm was 1,560km east-southeast of Hilo on the Big Island and was travelling west-northwest over the Pacific. The track of Hurricane Lane is uncertain, but the current forecast is it will pass about 200 miles south of the southernmost tip of the Big Island at the midweek point next week.

The storm has current maximum-sustained winds of 125mph but it is expected to weaken to a Category 1 storm by Wednesday, with maximum sustained winds of 74-95mph. This could bring winds of at least tropical storm strength (39mph and higher) to Hawaii’s Big Island, the NHC said. Lane will still be a hurricane when it passes south of Hawaii. AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski said: “Based on that track, impacts on at least the Big Island will not be much different than that was experienced with Hector two weeks earlier.

“Lane is likely to maintain major hurricane status for several days.” Hurricane Hector passed to the south of the island more than a week ago with minimal impact. The hurricane reached Category 4 status but passed well south of Hawaii in early August. Computers model predict Lane’s centre will pass south of Hawaii next week, but the outer bands still could bring strong winds to the islands if the centre gets close enough.

Large swells will spread westward and northward from the start of next week and conditions could become too dangerous for ocean vessels travelling south of the islands, as well as small craft attempting to navigate the water in the inter-island channels. Surfing may become too rough and dangerous along the south and east facing beaches of the islands by next week. Residents of Hawaii’s Big Island, especially on the southern and eastern part, should expect shower and breezy conditions, but they may spread to the middle and western islands in the String of Pearls by the middle of next week. If Lane tracks closer to the islands than Hurricane Hector then conditions will be more severe and if the hurricane is more spread out, then conditions could get a little worse over the islands, in comparison to Hector. </s> GPM passed above Lane in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on Aug. 17, 2018, at 1:26 a.m. EDT (0526 UTC). Lane was intensifying and data collected by GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) instruments revealed the location of its forming eye wall. Very heavy precipitation was shown by DPR in the forming eye wall. Intense rainfall was also found falling at a rate of over 128 mm (5 inches) per hour in convective storms wrapping around the southern side of the intensifying tropical cyclone. GPM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA.

At NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, GPM satellites radar (DPR Ku Band) data were used to create a close-up view of the 3-D structure of precipitation in Lane's forming eye wall. Powerful convective storms on Lane's southern side are also shown stretching to heights above 12.5 km (7.75 miles).

At Goddard, a simulated 3-D flyby around intensifying hurricane Lane was also created. That animation was derived from GPM's radar data (DPR Ku Band). It showed the location of the forming eye wall and the towering convective storms in the feeder band on the southern side of the tropical cyclone.

At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Hurricane Lane was located near 11.2 degrees north latitude and 132.9 degrees west longitude. Lane was moving toward the west near 16 mph (26 km/h). A motion between west and west-northwest is expected during the next few days, and

Lane is forecast to cross into the Central Pacific basin on Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 100 mph (155 kph) with higher gusts. Continued rapid strengthening is expected for the next 24 hours.

Hurricane Lane is predicted by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to continue intensifying during the next few days as it moves into the Central Pacific Ocean. Lane, like hurricane Hector, is predicted to pass to the south of the Hawaiian Islands. Lane is forecast to become a major hurricane within the next couple of days.
Hurricane Lane enters the central Pacific as a category 4 hurricane.