“Tracking the Path of Three Pacific Tropical Cyclones”

On Monday, three tropical cyclones made headlines in the Pacific: Tropical Storm Hone, Hurricane Gilma, and Tropical Storm Hector.

Tropical Storm Hone caused quite a stir in Hawaii over the weekend, bringing heavy rainfall that sparked flash floods.

The storms are expected to continue their westward journey, with the tail end of Hurricane Gilma set to go by Hawaii later this week.

As of midday Monday, Hone was about 280 miles west-southwest of Honolulu, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and moving west at 13 mph.

The storm caused disruption on the Big Island with road closures and power outages.

According to Big Island Mayor Mitch Roth, “No major damage or injuries have been reported yet.” However, one family had to evacuate due to flooding, leading to the closure of four schools.

While some residents faced challenges, others saw a silver lining amid a prolonged drought. Julia Neal, a bed-and-breakfast owner in Pahala, shared, “Hone was a gift in a way because we have been experiencing a lot of drought.”

She and her guests dealt with strong winds and intense rain overnight.

Phil Becker, from Aikane Plantation Coffee Co., reported significant flood damage but noted the rain’s potential benefits for his coffee crops. “We’re trapped due to overflowing gulches, but the rain is probably great for the coffee,” he said.

In Mauna Kea, the access road was closed due to cracks caused by the storm.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Gilma escalated to a Category 2, boasting winds of 110 mph and located about 1,160 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii, moving west at 8 mph. The National Hurricane Center anticipates that while Gilma will speed up, its intensity may decrease as it progresses.

Tropical Storm Hector is also strengthening, reaching wind speeds of 50 mph, and is centered about 1,125 miles west-southwest of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, moving west-northwest at 10 mph. Even as Hector strengthens, it’s a less immediate concern compared to Hone and Gilma.

Mayor Roth advised residents to stay alert, as the already saturated ground could worsen future rainfall effects. “It’s never too early to start protecting your house,” he cautioned.