Hawaii Gov. David Ige has urged residents to stock up on at least two weeks’ worth of essential supplies and hunker down as the state braces for the onslaught of Hurricane Lane.
Although it was downgraded to a Category 4 storm, it still remains extremely dangerous if it does make landfall, said the National Weather Service’s Central Pacific Hurricane Center.
It could hit the Big Island and Maui County on Thursday.
"I just want to remind everyone to prepare to shelter in place with 14 days of food and supplies and water," Gov. Ige said.
He urged people to stay off roads as flash flooding and mudslides are possible.
"We just need to urge people to use common sense," Ige added.
It will also likely create tropical-storm-force winds and pounding surf.
The Central Pacific Hurricane Center expects about 10-15 inches of rain with up to 20 inches for some areas.
If it makes landfall it will be a fairly rare event for Hawaii.
Only four tropical storms or hurricanes have made landfall before, the last being Tropical Storm Darby in 2016.
American Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines issued advisories for booked customers on flights and are waiving change fees.
