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Honolulu: Hurricane Flossie packed 217 km/h wind as it spun closer to Hawaii on Sunday, but forecasters predicted the Category 4 storm would weaken before passing by the islands later this week.
The hurricane was expected to pass about 115 kilometres south of the island of Hawaii late today or early tomorrow, but by then cooler water should weaken it to a Category 1 hurricane or a strong tropical storm.
But even a slight change of course in the unpredictable storm could bring it closer to land.
Monitoring the progress
"Everyone in the Hawaiian islands is urged to continue monitoring the progress of Hurricane Flossie," the Central Pacific Hurricane Centre said in a statement. "A northward shift in the track could potentially bring hurricane conditions to the Big Island." At 5 pm EDT (2100 GMT), Flossie was 1,185 kilometres east-southeast of Hilo, and had maximum sustained winds near 217 km/h with gusts reaching 259 km/h. It was travelling west at about 23 km/h.
Emergency workers mobilised on Sunday afternoon to prepare for the potentially devastating hurricane, Big Island Mayor Harry Kim said.
"You always prepare for the worst case scenario and hope for the best," Kim said.
Two Air Force WC-130 hurricane tracker aircraft were dispatched from Mississippi and expected to fly into the storm to gather measurements later in the day, said John Bravender, a forecaster at the centre.
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