HONOLULU (KHON2) -- Potential tropical threats have caught the attention of exert meteorologists for their possible evolution into tropical storms heading toward Hawaii.
"Aside from the potential impacts from rain and seas, increasing trade winds in lieu of a close encounter could raise the wildfire risk," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Grady Gilman.
Approximately 1,000 miles to the east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii is where the first area of concern is located.
Meteorologists said it has a medium chance of developing into a tropical depression or storm as it passes well to the south of the islands early next week.
The reason this affects the islands so much is due to the wide range a storm can affect.
Category 4 Hurricane Dora passed well to the south of the islands last August.
The core of the hurricane remained far away from the islands, but the effects of the storm cause a significant difference in atmospheric pressure between the hurricane and strong high pressure over the north-central Pacific.
Combined, the factors increased the northeast trade winds on the islands.
The winds became so strong they downed trees and power lines, which sparked rapidly spreading wildfires and becoming what we know today as Hawaii's greatest natural disaster -- the August 8 wildfires.
A devastating loss of over 100 Maui residents were killed in the disaster and at least 2,200 buildings destroyed.
"The high-pressure area is not nearly as strong as last August, and the system passing by to the south is not the caliber of Hurricane Dora," explained Anderson. "The trade winds should not be as enhanced with the first system passing by as with Dora in 2023."
Experts are encouraging residents, tourists, workers, and officials on the island to use caution and closely monitor forecast updates in the coming days.
