HONOLULU — The Big Island of Hawaii is bracing for high winds, heavy rain and ocean swells of up to 20 feet as strengthening Hurricane Ignacio approaches the state.
Ignacio has grown to a Category 4 storm, with sustained winds of up to 135 mph. Forecasters at the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said conditions were right for it to continue strengthening Saturday, but upper-level winds will weaken it in the following days.
That won’t keep high winds and battering surf from hitting Hawaii. A tropical storm watch was issued for the Big Island, and forecasters warned that sustained winds there could reach tropical storm force of 39 mph as early as Monday.
Swells generated by Ignacio along east and southeast facing shores of the Big Island will increase to 15 to 20 feet Sunday through Monday, creating potentially life-threatening surf conditions, forecasters said.
