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Hurricanes Iselle and Julio to hit Hawaii after earthquake Hurricane Julio to hit Hawaii after Iselle passes without major damage
(about 2 hours later)
After it was believed that a storm headed for Hawaii would weaken and fade into the Pacific Ocean, meteorologists are now warning islanders to prepare to endure Hurricane Iselle - the nation's first in 22 years – which will be closely followed by Hurricane Julio. Hurricane Iselle has slammed into Hawaii, toppling trees and cutting power to thousands of homes.
Weather officials changed their outlook on the system on Wednesday after Iselle became slightly stronger, and was ferocious enough to maintain its hurricane classification. No serious injuries or major damage had been reported by Friday morning as the category one storm passed over the island.
To make matters worse, as residents rushed to gather supplies to deal with possible flooding and outages, a magnitude-4.5 earthquake hit Hawaii's Big Island northern tip about 7 miles (11 km) from Waimea, at about 6:30 am local time, the US Geological Survey reported. There were no immediate reports of damage. It hit the Puna district at around 9.15pm local time on Thursday, with sustained winds of about up to 70 miles an hour, according to authorities.
Hawaiian state officials have stressed that the islands are ready for the hurricanes to strike, and that while residents should prepare, they need not panic. Iselle was downgraded to a tropical storm by about 11pm and is expected to weaken as it moves on but left around 18,000 homes without power and trees blocking roads.
More than 1,000 people, including many tourists, had been evacuated to Red Cross shelters on high ground while the island's residents fortified their houses and stocked up on supplies.
But there will be little respite for Hawaii, which is braced for a second hurricane, Julio, tracking closely behind.
Meteorologists originally believed that Iselle would weaken and fade into the Pacific Ocean but later warned islanders to prepare for their first hurricane in 22 years.
Staff members of the Royal Kona Resort in Kailua, Hawaii take down umbrellas as the resort prepares for Hurricane Iselle To make matters worse, as residents rushed to gather supplies to deal with possible flooding and outages, a magnitude-4.5 earthquake hit Hawaii's Big Island northern tip about 7 miles (11 km) from Waimea, at about 6.30 am local time, the US Geological Survey reported.
Hawaiian state officials have stressed that the islands are ready for the the second hurricane to strike, and that while residents should prepare, they need not panic.
On Thursday, travellers were alerted to flight disruptions, when commuter airline Island Air said it was cancelling some afternoon flights between the islands and shutting down all operations Friday.On Thursday, travellers were alerted to flight disruptions, when commuter airline Island Air said it was cancelling some afternoon flights between the islands and shutting down all operations Friday.
The storms are rare but not unexpected in years with a developing El Nino: a change in ocean temperature that affects weather around the world.The storms are rare but not unexpected in years with a developing El Nino: a change in ocean temperature that affects weather around the world.
Staff members of the Royal Kona Resort in Kailua, Hawaii take down umbrellas as the resort prepares for Hurricane Iselle
Mike Cantin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said: "What ended up happening is the storm has resurged just enough to keep its hurricane strength."
Iselle will bring winds up to 70 mph (110 kph), and rainfall of up to 8 inches (20 cm), he added. “Not a major hurricane, but definitely enough to blow things around,” he said.
Cantin said the Big Island's size and volcanic terrain would help break up the hurricane, weakening it into a tropical storm as it passes Maui and Oahu late Thursday and early Friday.
Early on Thursday, Iselle loomed about 400 miles (645 km) east of Hilo, with sustained winds of 85 mph (135 kph) and travelling about 18 mph (30 kph).
 
 
The US National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service (NESDIS) tweeted a photo of Iselle raging across the ocean on Thursday evening.The US National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service (NESDIS) tweeted a photo of Iselle raging across the ocean on Thursday evening.
#Hurricane #Iselle bearing down on Hawaii. GOES visible imagery from 1:00 pm EDT. http://t.co/A8zmWWM1XC pic.twitter.com/o1bXf0aw9J#Hurricane #Iselle bearing down on Hawaii. GOES visible imagery from 1:00 pm EDT. http://t.co/A8zmWWM1XC pic.twitter.com/o1bXf0aw9J
Hurricane Julio, meanwhile, swirled closely behind with maximum winds whipping at 100 mph (160 kph). The National Hurricane Center said it expected the storm to strengthen even more Thursday before gradually weakening by Thursday night. That weakening is expected to continue into the weekend. Hurricane Julio  swirled closely behind with maximum winds whipping at 100 mph.
Hawaii has been directly hit by hurricanes only three times since 1950, though the region has had 147 tropical cyclones over that time. The last time Hawaii was hit with a tropical storm or hurricane was in 1992, when Hurricane Iniki killed six people and destroyed more than 1,400 homes in Kauai, said meteorologist Eric Lau. The National Hurricane Center said it expected the storm to strengthen even more on Thursday before starting to weaken.
  Hawaii has been directly hit by hurricanes only three times since 1950, though the region has had 147 tropical cyclones over that time.
The last time Hawaii was hit with a tropical storm or hurricane was in 1992, when Hurricane Iniki killed six people and destroyed more than 1,400 homes in Kauai, said meteorologist Eric Lau.