Hurricane Hector (2018)
Hurricane Hector is currently a weakening tropical cyclone that has crossed the International Date Line. It is the first tropical cyclone to traverse all three Pacific basins since Genevieve in 2014. The eighth named storm, fourth hurricane, and third major hurricane of the 2018 Pacific hurricane season, Hector originated from an area of low pressure that formed a couple hundred miles west-southwest of Mexico on July 28. Amid favorable weather conditions, a tropical depression formed a few days later on July 31. The depression continued strengthening and became Tropical Storm Hector on the next day. Hector became a hurricane on August 2, and rapidly intensified into a strong Category 2 hurricane later in the day. After weakening while undergoing an eyewall replacement cycle, Hector quickly strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane late on August 4. Over the next week, Hector fluctuated in intensity multiple times due to eyewall replacement cycles and changing wind shear. Hector achieved its peak intensity on August 7 as a high-end Category 4 hurricane with winds of 155 mph (250 km/h). The following day, the hurricane bypassed Hawaii approximately 200 mi (320 km) to the south. Increasing wind shear resulted in steady weakening of the storm beginning on August 11. At that time, Hector accumulated the longest continuous stretch of time as a major hurricane in the northeastern Pacific since reliable records began. Eroding convection and dissipation of its eye marked its degradation to a tropical storm on August 13. The storm subsequently traversed the International Dateline that day.
Hector prompted several islands in the to issue tropical storm watches after the close pass by in Hawaii that warranted the issuance of a tropical storm warning for Hawaii County. Despite Hector having passed a couple hundred miles to the south of Hawaii, it still brought numerous adverse weather effects to Hawaii County and the surrounding islands.
Meteorological history
On July 26, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) started monitoring a low-pressure area that was forecasted to form several hundred miles south-southwest of Mexico in a few days. Two days later, a broad area of low pressure formed a few hundred miles south-southeast of Acapulco. The system gradually developed over the next few days, which prompted the NHC to declare the system a tropical depression. Six hours later, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Hector; based on an increase in curved banding features and a Dvorak intensity estimation. Despite a brief increase in wind shear forecast, steady strengthening to a hurricane was expected.
For the next several days, Hector generally traveled west without gaining much latitude while steadily intensifying, with microwave imagery revealing the emergence of a mid-level eye, an indication of rapid intensification was likely to take place. During the next 12 hours, Hector rapidly intensified into a high-end Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of . At the time, Hector was a small hurricane, with hurricane force winds only extended 15 miles (25 km) and tropical-storm force winds extended 60 miles (95 km) from the center. In response to an increase in northely wind shear and an eyewall replacement cycle, Hector weakened into a Category 1 hurricane on the afternoon of August 3.
Following the completion of the eyewall replacement cycle, Hector quickly strengthened into a major hurricane on August 4. On the next day, Hector strengthened further to a Category 4 hurricane, and achieving its initial peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of . Six hours later, Hector subsequently weakened, as the eye becoming less distinct. Shortly before 15:00 UTC that day, microwave data indicated that the second eyewall replacement cycle was occurring. Hector reached Category 4 status once again 6 hours later as the eye became more pronounced and it acquired some characteristics of an annular hurricane. Despite gradual weakening was forecasted, Hector subsequently began another rapid intensification. Early on August 7, Hector entered the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's (CPHC) monitoring zone.
After moving into the Central Pacific, Hector intensified further and peaked with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h). Later that day, Hector weakened due to interactions with dry air. As the weakening progressed, Hector's wind field began to expand. At 09:00 UTC on August 8, Hector weakened to a category 3 hurricane. At 21:00 UTC, the CPHC reported that Hector was passing about south of the Big Island with winds of 115. At the same time, microwave data indicated that Hector begun the third eyewall replacement cycle. Although the wind field of Hector initially increased when the cyclone began to weaken, it later decreased steadily due to the inner eyewall shrinking. By 09:00 UTC on August 9, Hector completed the eyewall replacement cycle. The satellite presentation of Hector immensely improved throughout the day, the eye became much more defined than before. Unlike the previous eyewall replacements, Hector maintained its intensity at that time. By 15:00 UTC on the same day, Hector began to intensify once again as it moved due west, away from the Hawaiian Islands. Hector continued to intensity on August 10. Six hours later, Hector regained category 4 status. At 21:00 UTC on the same day, Hector reached its secondary peak intensity with winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) as it began to turn west-northwest, under the influence a subtropical ridge. On August 11, Hector began another weakening trend as increasing wind shear began to take a toll on the system. Though by this time, the hurricane set a record for the longest consecutive duration as a major hurricane in the northeastern Pacific. Late on August 11, Hector weakened below major hurricane strength due to increasing wind shear as it turned to the northwest, a status it had held for nearly eight days. Hector quickly weakened to Category 1 status on August 12 due to strong south-southwesterly shear.. On August 13, Hector weakened further to a tropical storm. Later on the same day, Hector crossed over the International Date Line, exiting the Central Pacific basin and entering the West Pacific basin.
Current storm information
As of 18:00 UTC on August 13, Tropical Storm Hector is located near . 10-minute sustained winds are at 75 km/h (45 mph); 1-minute sustained winds are at 75 km/h (45 mph), with gusts of up to 110 km/h (70 mph). The minimum barometric pressure is at , and the system is moving west-northwestward at .
For the latest official information, see:
*JMA's [https://www.jma.go.jp/en/typh/1817.html Tropical Cyclone Warning Text on Tropical Storm 1817 (Hector)]
*JTWC's [http://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/ep1018web.txt Tropical Cyclone Warning Text on Tropical Storm 10E (Hector)]
Preparations and impact
Although forecasts depicted Hector remaining south of Hawaii, concerns were raised over the safety of residents displaced by the ongoing eruption of KÄ«lauea. Many remained in temporary tent structures that could not withstand a hurricane; however, plans were made to relocate people to sturdier structures. A tropical storm watch was issued for Hawaii County on August 6; this was upgraded to a tropical storm warning two days later. The tropical storm warning was discontinued later that day as the inner core stayed far offshore.
On August 7, the acting mayor of Hawaii County, Wil Okabe, declared a state of emergency as Hector was approaching from the east. The next day, all absentee-walkin voting sites and Whittington, Punaluu, and Milolii Beach Parks in Hawaii County were closed as Hector passed by to the south. On August 8, high surf was reported along the south facing shores on the Big Island. In all, at least 90 people necessitated rescue on Oahu due to dangerous swells generated by the cyclone.
On August 9, Johnston Atoll briefly received a tropical storm watch as Hector approached the atoll, On August 11, a tropical storm watch was issued for portions of the from
Lisianski Island to Pearl and Hermes Atoll, and the next day, was issued for Kure Atoll and Midway Atoll and the waters between Midway Atoll and Pearl and Hermes Atoll.
Records
Hector currently holds the record for most consecutive days as a major hurricane in the northeast Pacific with 7.75 days (186 hours). The previous record holder was with 7.00 days. In addition, Hector currently holds the record for most hours as a Category 4 in the northeastern Pacific, with 4 days (96 hours) total. Hector has the most accumulated cyclone energy in the Northeast Pacific since .
Hector prompted several islands in the to issue tropical storm watches after the close pass by in Hawaii that warranted the issuance of a tropical storm warning for Hawaii County. Despite Hector having passed a couple hundred miles to the south of Hawaii, it still brought numerous adverse weather effects to Hawaii County and the surrounding islands.
Meteorological history
On July 26, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) started monitoring a low-pressure area that was forecasted to form several hundred miles south-southwest of Mexico in a few days. Two days later, a broad area of low pressure formed a few hundred miles south-southeast of Acapulco. The system gradually developed over the next few days, which prompted the NHC to declare the system a tropical depression. Six hours later, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Hector; based on an increase in curved banding features and a Dvorak intensity estimation. Despite a brief increase in wind shear forecast, steady strengthening to a hurricane was expected.
For the next several days, Hector generally traveled west without gaining much latitude while steadily intensifying, with microwave imagery revealing the emergence of a mid-level eye, an indication of rapid intensification was likely to take place. During the next 12 hours, Hector rapidly intensified into a high-end Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of . At the time, Hector was a small hurricane, with hurricane force winds only extended 15 miles (25 km) and tropical-storm force winds extended 60 miles (95 km) from the center. In response to an increase in northely wind shear and an eyewall replacement cycle, Hector weakened into a Category 1 hurricane on the afternoon of August 3.
Following the completion of the eyewall replacement cycle, Hector quickly strengthened into a major hurricane on August 4. On the next day, Hector strengthened further to a Category 4 hurricane, and achieving its initial peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of . Six hours later, Hector subsequently weakened, as the eye becoming less distinct. Shortly before 15:00 UTC that day, microwave data indicated that the second eyewall replacement cycle was occurring. Hector reached Category 4 status once again 6 hours later as the eye became more pronounced and it acquired some characteristics of an annular hurricane. Despite gradual weakening was forecasted, Hector subsequently began another rapid intensification. Early on August 7, Hector entered the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's (CPHC) monitoring zone.
After moving into the Central Pacific, Hector intensified further and peaked with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h). Later that day, Hector weakened due to interactions with dry air. As the weakening progressed, Hector's wind field began to expand. At 09:00 UTC on August 8, Hector weakened to a category 3 hurricane. At 21:00 UTC, the CPHC reported that Hector was passing about south of the Big Island with winds of 115. At the same time, microwave data indicated that Hector begun the third eyewall replacement cycle. Although the wind field of Hector initially increased when the cyclone began to weaken, it later decreased steadily due to the inner eyewall shrinking. By 09:00 UTC on August 9, Hector completed the eyewall replacement cycle. The satellite presentation of Hector immensely improved throughout the day, the eye became much more defined than before. Unlike the previous eyewall replacements, Hector maintained its intensity at that time. By 15:00 UTC on the same day, Hector began to intensify once again as it moved due west, away from the Hawaiian Islands. Hector continued to intensity on August 10. Six hours later, Hector regained category 4 status. At 21:00 UTC on the same day, Hector reached its secondary peak intensity with winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) as it began to turn west-northwest, under the influence a subtropical ridge. On August 11, Hector began another weakening trend as increasing wind shear began to take a toll on the system. Though by this time, the hurricane set a record for the longest consecutive duration as a major hurricane in the northeastern Pacific. Late on August 11, Hector weakened below major hurricane strength due to increasing wind shear as it turned to the northwest, a status it had held for nearly eight days. Hector quickly weakened to Category 1 status on August 12 due to strong south-southwesterly shear.. On August 13, Hector weakened further to a tropical storm. Later on the same day, Hector crossed over the International Date Line, exiting the Central Pacific basin and entering the West Pacific basin.
Current storm information
As of 18:00 UTC on August 13, Tropical Storm Hector is located near . 10-minute sustained winds are at 75 km/h (45 mph); 1-minute sustained winds are at 75 km/h (45 mph), with gusts of up to 110 km/h (70 mph). The minimum barometric pressure is at , and the system is moving west-northwestward at .
For the latest official information, see:
*JMA's [https://www.jma.go.jp/en/typh/1817.html Tropical Cyclone Warning Text on Tropical Storm 1817 (Hector)]
*JTWC's [http://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/ep1018web.txt Tropical Cyclone Warning Text on Tropical Storm 10E (Hector)]
Preparations and impact
Although forecasts depicted Hector remaining south of Hawaii, concerns were raised over the safety of residents displaced by the ongoing eruption of KÄ«lauea. Many remained in temporary tent structures that could not withstand a hurricane; however, plans were made to relocate people to sturdier structures. A tropical storm watch was issued for Hawaii County on August 6; this was upgraded to a tropical storm warning two days later. The tropical storm warning was discontinued later that day as the inner core stayed far offshore.
On August 7, the acting mayor of Hawaii County, Wil Okabe, declared a state of emergency as Hector was approaching from the east. The next day, all absentee-walkin voting sites and Whittington, Punaluu, and Milolii Beach Parks in Hawaii County were closed as Hector passed by to the south. On August 8, high surf was reported along the south facing shores on the Big Island. In all, at least 90 people necessitated rescue on Oahu due to dangerous swells generated by the cyclone.
On August 9, Johnston Atoll briefly received a tropical storm watch as Hector approached the atoll, On August 11, a tropical storm watch was issued for portions of the from
Lisianski Island to Pearl and Hermes Atoll, and the next day, was issued for Kure Atoll and Midway Atoll and the waters between Midway Atoll and Pearl and Hermes Atoll.
Records
Hector currently holds the record for most consecutive days as a major hurricane in the northeast Pacific with 7.75 days (186 hours). The previous record holder was with 7.00 days. In addition, Hector currently holds the record for most hours as a Category 4 in the northeastern Pacific, with 4 days (96 hours) total. Hector has the most accumulated cyclone energy in the Northeast Pacific since .
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