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Hurricane travel advisory

UPDATE 8:44 p.m.

Hawaii residents rushed to grocery stores Tuesday to stock up on bottled water, ramen and toilet paper as they faced the threat of heavy rain, flash flooding and high surf from a powerful and erratic hurricane expected to churn close to the islands or directly over them.

The National Weather Service issued a hurricane watch for Hawaii, Maui and other smaller islands, meaning tropical storm-force winds, excessive rain and large swells could arrive starting Wednesday. It's possible Oahu and Kauai may later be included in an advisory for the hurricane packing potential maximum sustained winds of 155 mph.

Hurricane Lane "is forecast to move dangerously close to the main Hawaiian islands as a hurricane later this week, potentially bringing damaging winds and life-threatening flash flooding from heavy rainfall," the weather service's Central Pacific Hurricane Center warned as it got closer to the state.

The storm had been moving west but is expected to turn northwest toward the state Wednesday. There's some uncertainty to Lane's path — whether it moves north or south, meteorologist Gavin Shigesato said.

"It is much too early to confidently determine which, if any, of the main Hawaiian islands will be directly impacted by Lane," the weather service said.

But the hurricane centre said the storm will move very close to or over the islands from Thursday through Saturday. Even if the centre of Lane doesn't make landfall, the islands could be walloped with rain and wind.

Maui County and Big Island schools will be closed starting Wednesday, the state Department of Education said. All after-school activities statewide are cancelled for the rest of the week.

The east side of the Big Island has taken the brunt from previous storms and is still reeling after lava from an erupting volcano wiped out entire neighbourhoods. But early indications showed that the south end of the island up to the western side would be taking the brunt of the storm.

"At this time, it looks like maybe Puna will be spared," county Managing Director Wil Okabe said of the beleaguered, rural district. "But you never know."

Officials were urging residents across the islands to prepare.

- The Canadian Press


Canadians are being advised to avoid non-essential travel to Hawaii as Hurricane Lane nears the islands.

The federal government issued the advisory Tuesday.

The hurricane is expected to pass Hawaii Thursday and Friday, bringing heavy rain and violent winds. 

There is also a risk of flash flooding and landslides.

The government is advising those with travel plans to Hawaii County, Maui County, and the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe to postpone.

– with files from CTV Vancouver



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