CSAV Hawaii: Hurricane Flossie Storm Surge

[hebneh]

All the Hawaiian Islands, except for Kauai - and Oahu (to a lesser extent) - have been extremely fortunate in the last century or more with regards to hurricanes. Someday that luck will change...unfortunately.

[StormChaserMax]

Excellent video!

I flew home for Flossie and went down to Whittington Park. The winds never surpassed 30mph, and there wasn't much more rain beyond a light drizzle. But I did notice maybe a 2ft storm surge, and the waves were amazing.

Glad to see I'm not the only one documenting all the amazing weather events that occur on my home island.

[pbmaise]

@StormChaserMax

There is a reason all islands except for Kauai are not effected by hurricanes. Hawaii's big tall volcanoes on Hawaii Island and Maui steal moisture and convert it to snow. More moisture is launched into jet stream. The islands close behind are also protected.

Check out other videos on youtube to see Hurricane Flossie being ripped apart by jet stream.

Philip Maise

Pahoa Hawaii

[CenterStudyVolcanoes]

@pbmaise That is a common misconception, if you only look at Dot, Iwa, and Iniki. But hurricanes have hit the Big Island (Kohala Cyclone 1871), and will again. Mauna Kea & Mauna Loa are not large enough to deflect hurricanes. Hurricanes are ~600 miles wide, with heights several times that of Mauna Kea; that is why photos of hurricanes from above are taken by satellite, not by airplane. Hurricane Georges, in 1988, rolled over Caribbean mountains exceeding 13K feet, undeflected. Be prepared!