MIAMI, (APP/AFP): Hurricane Madeline showed power
as it churned toward Hawaii Tuesday, peaking at a dangerous Category Four strength before slackening, US weather officials said.
The storm, which is expected to pass near Hawaii’s Big Island sometime Wednesday, has the potential to unleash dangerous flash floods and mudslides, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said.
At 0000 GMT Wednesday, Madeline was a Category Two storm with maximum
sustained winds around 110 miles (177 kilometers) per hour.
Winds had reached 130 miles per hour earlier in the day, making the
hurricane a Category Four storm at the time.
Madeline threatens to disrupt a planned visit by President Barack Obama and other dignitaries to Hawaii for the World Conservation Congress, a major meeting of thousands of delegates, including heads of state, scientists and policy makers.
The massive storm was located 350 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii, traveling at 10 miles per hour toward the west.
“On the forecast track, the center of Madeline will pass dangerously close to Hawaii County Wednesday and Wednesday night,” the center said in its advisory, referring to the Big Island.
Madeline was expected to gradually weaken over the next 48 hours.
International News
Hurricane Madeline weakening as it heads toward Hawaii
