Hawaii is on alert for Tropical Storm Hone while extreme heat is expected to expand from the South into the Midwest, leaving 25 million Americans under heat alerts this weekend.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Big Island of Hawaii as Tropical Storm Hone passes south of the islands.
While it won’t be a direct hit, the storm is still close enough to produce some potentially dangerous effects.
The biggest threat is heavy rain that could cause flooding and landslides, especially on the eastern side of the Big Island where rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches are possible. For the smaller islands, scattered rainfall of 2 to 4 inches is possible this weekend from Hone’s outer band.
As for wind, tropical storm force winds are forecast to begin this evening and overnight into Sunday morning. Wind gusts will generally be in the 25 to 40 mph range, but there may be gusts over 50 mph in some of the higher elevations on the Big Island.
Swells from Hone will also generate high surf and dangerous rip currents for all islands starting on the Big Island on Saturday and spreading west to the rest of the islands over the weekend.
Hone may reach hurricane status for a brief period as it passes south of Hawaii, but it is forecast to stay over open water and eventually weaken back to a tropical storm.
Heat warnings for 25 million Americans
This weekend, the sweltering heat continues for much of the southern plains, but it will lighten up a bit in Texas as the weekend progresses.
In this screen shot from a video, a woman fans herself while first responders treat someone for a heat-related illness, in Glendale Arizona, on August 23, 2024.
KNXV
The extreme heat will drift north over the next few days, making its way through the central plains and into the upper Midwest.
An excessive heat watch is in effect for parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin, including Minneapolis on Sunday and Monday.
Heat indexes could approach 110 degrees for several cities in the Plains and Midwest on Sunday and Monday.
Extreme heat moves east early to mid next week, moving into the Great Lakes and south on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Cities like ChicagoLouisville and Atlanta could approach some record high temperatures up to 95 to 100 degrees by the middle of next week.