A tropical storm watch has now been issued for the Big Island of Hawaii as Hurricane Ignacio makes its way over the Pacific towards reports the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.
At 11 a.m. Honolulu time, Ignacio was classified as a Category 4 hurricane on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale –five being the highest. The Hurricane is moving 585 miles (940 kilometers) east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii, with top winds of 140 miles per hour. At nine miles an hour, the possibility of tropical storm conditions will hit the Big Island starting Sunday night.
"Large swells generated by Ignacio will arrive along east and southeast facing shores of the main Hawaiian islands over the next several days. Resultant surf will be large and potentially life-threatening, especially on the Big Island," as said in an advisory, according to Bloomberg Business.
Two to four inches of rain is expected and low lying areas along the coast are expected to flood.
"If Ignacio shifts to the right, we could see light winds, more humid conditions, and localized heavy rain. On a more leftward track closer to the islands, we could see stronger/damaging winds and more widespread heavy rain/flooding. Everyone should continue to monitor the progress of Ignacio during the next several days," reports the National Weather Service, according to KSL.
On Friday by Governor David Ige issued an emergency proclamation to release funds for disaster relief and suspend laws hindering "emergency functions," Reuters reports.
