After Tropical Storm Hone swept across the Big Island of Hawaii with heavy rain and strong winds, emergency teams began efforts on Monday to restore power and assess damage while keeping an eye on Hurricane Gilma in the eastern Pacific.

Hone intensified into a Category 1 hurricane as it moved south of the Big Island early Sunday, bringing over a foot of rain to many areas, with some regions receiving as much as 15 to 18 inches. Flooding occurred on several major roads, leading officials to open shelters. Thousands of residents and businesses experienced power outages, but reports of significant damage were minimal.

By late Sunday night, Hone had weakened back to a tropical storm, moving west of the Hawaiian islands, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. As of Monday morning, coastal watches and warnings were lifted, and a flood warning for the Big Island was downgraded to a flood watch.

All public schools on the Big Island were scheduled to reopen on Monday except for two elementary schools, which remained closed due to unsafe road conditions caused by the shutdown of Highway 11, making access to the schools impossible for families and staff.

According to PowerOutage.us, more than 12,000 utility customers in Hawaii were without power early Monday, predominantly on the Big Island.

“We are entering the recovery phase,” Hawaii Mayor Mitch Roth mentioned during a Facebook livestream on Sunday. He noted that emergency crews would assess the damage and restore power while also preparing for Hurricane Gilma. “Gilma is on the way, so even though we are wrapping up this situation, it’s wise to gear up for the next one.”

Current Status of Tropical Storm Hone

The storm was located 180 miles southwest of Honolulu and 185 miles south of Lihue, with maximum sustained winds at 70 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu.

Traveling westward at 14 mph, Hone is expected to continue moving away from Hawaii and north of Johnston Island while gradually weakening, as per the hurricane center’s outlook. The storm maintains maximum sustained winds of 70 mph, with tropical storm-force winds extending 90 miles from its center.

Hurricane Gilma Expected to Affect Hawaii

As the effects of Tropical Storm Hone lessen, forecasters are cautioning about Hurricane Gilma’s potential impacts in the eastern Pacific.

Hurricane Gilma, located over 1,200 miles east of Hilo, is anticipated to bring rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds to the state possibly by Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, according to AccuWeather. As of late Sunday, it had sustained winds of 100 mph, classifying it as a Category 2 storm.

Forecasters believe Gilma will likely pass just north of the islands, stressing that the effects will depend significantly on its proximity to the islands. Under its current trajectory, Gilma may weaken further as it approaches and could become a tropical depression later in the week, according to AccuWeather.

AccuWeather also warned that both tropical systems might result in dangerous sea conditions and rough surf around the islands, complicating activities for swimmers and small craft.

“Gilma is still quite far from us,” commented Sean Miller, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Honolulu, during a Facebook livestream on Sunday. “We have time to monitor its progress.”

Tropical Storm Hector Anticipated to Intensify

To the east of Hurricane Gilma is Tropical Storm Hector, which has recently formed in the Pacific.

Hector is expected to continue tracking westward toward Hawaii over the next several days, the National Hurricane Center reported. However, it is still too early to predict how close it will approach the islands.

As of late Sunday, Hector was situated over 1,000 miles west-southwest of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, moving westward at 9 mph, with maximum sustained winds reaching 45 mph, according to the hurricane center.

As wind conditions improve, Hector could strengthen as it approaches the central Pacific basin early this week, although its intensification might be limited due to dry air and stronger wind shear anticipated by the hurricane center.

Contributing: Jorge L. Ortiz, YSL News