Storm came within “razor thin” margin of doing much worse damage than it did, one forecaster said. COVID-19 was a concern for hundreds packed into shelters and those already in quarantine.
Hurricane Douglas gained some strength and began to spin away from many of the Hawaiian Islands as it skirted the state late Sunday. Forecasters said a hurricane warning was canceled for Oahu but remained in effect for Kauai County, including the islands of Kauai and Niihau, which could still be hit by the system with strong wind gusts and rough surf. “It’s still not out of the realm of possibilities. So we want people to really remain vigilant and stay prepared, at least for tonight,” Eric Lau, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu said Sunday. As of 11 p.m. Sunday Hawaii Standard Time (5 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time), Douglas was 100 miles northwest of Honolulu. It had maximum sustained winds of 90 mph, making it a Category 1 hurricane. Heavy rain and wind gusts battered Maui during the morning Sunday, downing a small tree on the Hana Highway. Gentle rain fell and blustery winds swayed trees on Oahu, home to the state’s biggest city, Honolulu. Sand and debris washed ashore on a two-lane coastal road.
