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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Papahanaumokuakea under hurricane warning as Category 3 Neki closes


Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

A hurricane warning is in effect for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument as Neki, now a Category 3 hurricane, bears down.

NOAA satellite photo

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center's projected five-day track for Hurricane Neki.

NOAA graphic

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A hurricane warning is in effect for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument from Nihoa Island to French Frigate Shoals to Maro Reef as Hurricane Neki, now a Category 3 storm, continues to head its way.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center’s 11 a.m. report puts the storm about 630 miles west-southwest of Honolulu and about 410 miles south of French Frigate Shoals. Neki, with maximum sustained winds of near 115 mph, is moving north-northwest at about 9 mph.
A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are expected within 48 hours.
The hurricane center says it expects Neki to intensify during the next 24 hours and near French Frigate Shoals on Friday.
"Rainfall amounts of 8 to 12 inches can be expected along the path of Neki," the hurricane center said in its report.
"Large swells will begin to build in advance of Neki across the smaller islands of the Papahanaumokuakea National Monument (tonight) ... and seas will build to 15 to 20 feet (tomorrow) ... creating surf of 20 to 25 feet."

To view a satellite loop of Hurricane Neki, go to:
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/west/cpac/loop-vis.html

For Central Pacific Hurricane Center updates on the storm, go to:
http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/cphc/tcpages/NEKI.php