Hurricane Jimena Eyes The Big Island
National Weather Service Issues Hurricane Watch
POSTED: 2:48 PM HST August 31, 2003
HONOLULU -- Hurricane Jimena is creeping closer to the Big Island. The National Weather Service issued a hurricane watch on Saturday for the entire island of Hawaii.
The National Weather Service says the storm was about 445 miles southeast of Hilo at 5:00 a.m., moving west at about 17 miles per hour. Its winds are 105 miles an hour and higher.
Jimena is expected to pass about 50 miles south of the Big Island early Monday morning. It's likely to bring high surf, heavy rain and strong winds to parts of the Big Island.
Weather officials say residents of the southern portion of the Big Island should expect heavy rains of four to six inches starting Sunday night. Surf along the east- and southeast-facing shores of the Big Island is forecast for eight to 12 feet with occasional higher sets Sunday and Monday.