Hurricane Winds Impact Hawaii From Strong Cold Front

[senorpepr]

HONOLULU - Thousands of homes in Hawaii remained without power Thursday, a day after winds gusting as high as 85 mph buffeted parts of the state, knocking out electricity and closing highways and schools.

The winds toppled power lines, cutting off electricity to many communities. About 12,400 homes were expected to be without power until later Thursday, officials at Hawaiian Electric Co. said.

The National Weather Service recorded an 85 mph gust on the western coast of Oahu.
On the westernmost island of Kauai, gusts of more than 50 mph ripped the roof off a garage and dropped a tree on two cars. No injuries were reported.

Some areas were isolated for a time after trees and power lines fell across roads. One medical clinic canceled elective surgeries.

Nearly a dozen public schools were closed Wednesday, and at least seven remained closed Thursday because of roof damage or power outages.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
1010 AM HST THU JAN 15 2004

...STRONG WINDS ACROSS HAWAII. A FINAL SUMMARY...

STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS OCCURRED AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT THAT PASSED THROUGH THE STATE YESTERDAY. AS THE AIR MOVED OVER THE MOUNTAINS IT WAS ACCELERATED DOWNSLOPE...RESULTING IN VERY STRONG WIND GUSTS
ACROSS THE NORTH AND EAST SECTIONS OF SEVERAL OF THE ISLANDS.
NUMEROUS TREES AND POWERLINES WERE DOWNED DUE TO THE WINDS. AT LEAST 100 HOMES...MAINLY ON OAHU...ALSO SUFFERED ROOF DAMAGE.

FOLLOWING ARE PEAK WIND GUSTS FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES.


KAUAI
MOLOAA................ 71 MPH
LIHUE................. 59 MPH
OMAO.................. 50+ MPH (SPOTTER ESTIMATE)
MAKAHA RIDGE.......... 49 MPH
PORT ALLEN............ 47 MPH
KILAUEA............... 46 MPH (SCHOOL NET REPORT)
PRINCEVILLE........... 43 MPH
POIPU................. 38 MPH

OAHU
KANEOHE BAY........... 92 MPH (ANEMOMETER READING FROM A 65FT BOAT)
MAKUA RIDGE........... 90 MPH (EXPOSED RIDGE WITH WIND FUNNELING)
WHEELER AFB........... 73 MPH
MAKAPUU............... 70+ MPH (SPOTTER ESTIMATE)
BELLOWS............... 61 MPH
KANEOHE MCAS.......... 60 MPH
WAIALUA............... 60+ MPH (SPOTTER ESTIMATE)
KOKO HEAD............. 59 MPH (SCHOOL NET REPORT)
WAIANAE VALLEY........ 57 MPH
SCHOFIELD BARRACKS.... 52 MPH
HONOLULU AIRPORT...... 47 MPH
MILILANI.............. 47 MPH (SCHOOL NET REPORT)
KALAELOA AIRPORT...... 40 MPH
KAHUKU................ 37 MPH

MOLOKAI
KALAUPAPA............. 60 MPH
MOLOKAI AIRPORT....... 40 MPH

MAUI
KAHULUI............... 64 MPH
MAALAEA BAY........... 54 MPH
LIPOA................. 52 MPH
PUKALANI.............. 51 MPH (SCHOOL NET REPORT)

KAHOOLAWE
KAHOOLAWE............. 57 MPH

BIG ISLAND
KONA.................. 45 MPH
HILINA PALI-VOLCANO NP 42 MPH
HONOKAA............... 40 MPH
UPOLU POINT........... 34 MPH
HILO.................. 33 MPH

OFFSHORE WATERS
BUOY 1 / NW OF KAUAI.. 63 MPH