Hurricane Neki and the Hawaiian Islands
As we reported on WAAY-31 News at 10 on Thursday night, a late season Pacific hurricane, Neki, is approaching the northern Hawaiian Islands, not a part of the State of Hawaii.
In the French Frigate Shoals, there are only teams of scientists, many of whom fork for NOAA Marine Fisheries Department, had to be rescued from the Tern Island Airport.
The WAAY-31 report follows.
AMAZING VIDEO FROM THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS TONIGHT! THE U-S COAST GUARD RESCUED 10 PEOPLE FROM A NORTHERN HAWAIIAN ISLAND TODAY IN THE FRENCH FRIGATE SHOALS FROM THE TERN ISLAND AIR STRIP. IT’S PART OF THE A PERSONNEL EVACUATION AHEAD OF HURRICANE NEKI.
THE HURRICANE IS HEADED RIGHT TOWARDS THE NORTHERN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. NEKI IS EXPECTED TO BE A CATEGORY THREE ONCE IT MAKES LANDFALL SOMETIME TOMORROW MORNING.
The reason for the evacuation, the Tern Island Airstrip has a high point of 5 feet above sea level, and there is a chance for 15 to 20 foot seas to pass by the island. That would inundate this airport, made mostly of crushed coral, and the rest of the island and the buildings on it.
It will be interesting to see how the island chain weathers this storm, as this is home to Monk Seals and the Hawaiian Green Turtle, both specied endangered and threatened by this hurricane. For more information on the French Frigate Shoals, CLICK HERE.
Brad Huffines, Chief Meteorologist /Storm Force 31
