This weekend Alert, Tropical Storm Hone is expected to bring strong winds and a lot of rain to Hawaii…

This weekend Alert, Tropical Storm Hone is expected to bring strong winds and a lot of rain to Hawaii.

HONOLULU—Tropical Storm Hone was expected to deliver strong winds and heavy rain to Hawaii this weekend, particularly to the Big Island and Maui, as it passes south of the island chain. Forecasters believe it will strengthen to a Category 1 hurricane for part of the time it skirts past the state.

A tropical storm watch was in effect Friday for Hawaii County, which includes all of the Big Island, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu.

The August storm has evoked memories of the powerful hurricane south of Hawaii that helped fuel a deadly wildfire that destroyed Maui’s Lahaina town during a drought last summer, but the National Weather Service said Hone was not creating the same conditions.

Hone, which means “sweet and soft” in Hawaiian and is pronounced hoe-NEH, was expected to bring sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph (32 to 48 kph) and gusts of 50 mph (80 mph) to Maui and the Big Island. Oahu and Kauai were forecast to get slightly weaker winds.

Hone, which means “sweet and soft” in Hawaiian and is pronounced hoe-NEH, was expected to bring sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph (32 to 48 kph) and gusts of 50 mph (80 mph) to Maui and the Big Island. Oahu and Kauai were forecast to get slightly weaker winds.

The Big Island’s east coast and southeastern corner were due to get 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters) of rain Saturday night through Sunday night, while Maui could get 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters).

Those predictions could change depending on the storm’s course. As of Friday afternoon, the storm was about 470 miles (755 kilometers) east-southeast of Hilo and 680 miles (1,095 kilometers) east-southeast of Honolulu. It was moving west at 16 mph (26 kph) with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph).

Conditions have been dry throughout Hawaii. The U.S. Drought Monitor says much of the state is in moderate drought, while parts of Maui and the Big Island are in extreme drought.

The Lahaina fire of Aug. 8, 2023, was fueled by powerful winds whipped up by a combination of a hurricane passing some 500 miles (800 kilometers) to the south and a very strong high pressure system to the north of the islands. The weather service issued a red flag warning at the time, something it does when warm temperatures, very low humidity and strong winds combine to raise fire danger.