by Donald Wood
Last updated: 12:05 PM ET, Wed August 22, 2018
Hawaiian residents and visitors are preparing for the potential impact of the Category 5 Hurricane Lane as it careens toward the island later this week.
According to The Associated Press, the National Weather Service announced Tuesday the hurricane had reached Category 5 status, which indicates the storm is expected to cause catastrophic damage with winds of 157 miles per hour or above.
Hurricane Lane was about 500 miles southeast of Honolulu Wednesday morning.
In Hawaii, the Big Island is currently under a hurricane warning and the islands of Oahu, Maui, and others are under a hurricane watch. The island chain could begin facing heavy rain, flash flooding, and high surf Wednesday.
While Hurricane Lane's exact path is still unknown, it is expected to turn toward the state Wednesday. The National Weather Service said it is still unclear if any of the Hawaiian Islands will face a direct hit from the storm.
Regardless of the hurricane's path, the impact of the storm will be felt on the islands from Thursday through Saturday. As a result, public schools have been closed until further notice and non-essential state employees have been put on administrative leave by Governor David Ige.
For travelers, several airlines have started waiving change fees on previously booked flights to Hawaii, including American, Delta, United and more. The Hawaiian Islands are also popular with cruise companies, and several itineraries could be impacted by the storm.
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