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Hawaii braces for back-to-back hurricanes heading towards it

It is the first time in more than 20 years that a hurricane has hit Hawaii.

Tropical Weather The two storms swirling towards Hawaii AP / Nasa AP / Nasa / Nasa

HAWAII IS PREPARING itself tonight as a rare pair of hurricanes takes aim at the holiday paradise, with the first expected to make landfall within hours.

Big Island is expected to see a direct hit from Hurricane Iselle tonight, bringing with it strong wind, heavy rain and dangerous storm surges, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center

In an unusual development, Iselle is being trailed by another, stronger hurricane dubbed Julio, with the prospect of a one-two punch placing the popular archipelago on even higher alert.

Packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour, Iselle — a Category 1 storm — was located some 560 kilometers east-southeast of Hilo and 560 miles east-southeast of the state capital Honolulu at 12:00 GMT, the CPHC forecasters said.

HAWAII HURRICANES

“On the forecast track, the center of Iselle is expected to pass over the Big Island tonight and pass just south of the smaller islands Friday,” they added.

Rainfall of up to 12 inches

Tropical storm conditions were expected on Big Island this afternoon, with hurricane conditions taking hold overnight. Maui and Oahu were forecast to see tropical storm conditions starting late Thursday.

The haven for sun-seekers from around the world was expected to see rainfall of up to 12 inches thanks to Iselle.

“These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods as well as rock and mud slides,” the CPHC cautioned.

Rush to stock up 

Julio, which strengthened to a Category 2 storm overnight, was situated some 1,340 miles east of Hilo, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center.

With maximum sustained winds of nearly 100 miles per hour, the NHC forecasters warned it could strengthen some more before slowly losing steam.

Tropical Weather A couple read a weather update in the lobby of a hotel in Waikiki earlier today. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

On its current trajectory, Julio was expected to pass to the north of Big Island as a tropical storm late Saturday or Sunday.

With the twin storms fast approaching, television images showed long lines at local supermarkets, as residents and vacationers alike rushed to stock up on water and other basics to see them through the next few days.

Tropical Weather AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that shelters would open Thursday night for residents of Oahu — home to Honolulu — and that state authorities were shutting down a slew of recreation areas that could become danger zones due to possible flash flooding and other storm-related hazards.

- © AFP, 2014

Read: Hurricane Bertha will miss us, but other possible storms are ‘being monitored’ >

Read: A unique innovation in umbrellas spotted in Dublin > 

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    Mute Teddington
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    Mar 29th 2016, 8:57 PM

    Just let them bring their guns and lock the doors and let nature take its course!

    386
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    Mute Joshua Walsh
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    Mar 29th 2016, 8:57 PM

    Tis a gas old place Thee Unites States of America.

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    Mute Patrick Ralf
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    Mar 29th 2016, 9:12 PM

    Yeee hawwww pew pew pew

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    Mute Paul Mc Manus
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    Mar 29th 2016, 9:19 PM

    They really are the laughing stock of the world. Great entertainment that lot.

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    Mute Darren Mullen
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    Mar 29th 2016, 9:00 PM

    If one nutter gets a gun through and discharges the NRA will have a field day.

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    Mute Lorcan MacAteer
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    Mar 29th 2016, 10:19 PM

    NRA members are not the problem.

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    Mute Martin Gallagher
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    Mar 29th 2016, 10:42 PM

    No Lorcan but their gun industry supported leaders are. Far as I know, most NRA members are in favour of sensible gun ownership controls but as long as big money brides the leaders of this association, then it’s just business as usual in America. Time for most ordinary NRA members to take back control of their organisation, I think?

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    Mute Shawn Rahoon
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    Mar 29th 2016, 10:51 PM

    Correct Lorcan. The majority are against the right to bear arms yet agree with what Padraig Nally did to defend himself.

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    Mute Stephen Devlin
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    Mar 29th 2016, 9:00 PM

    Whats the worst that could happen

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    Mute Ian T Boyle
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    Mar 29th 2016, 9:44 PM

    That neither Trump or Cruz gets hit

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    Mute Paddy Ryan
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    Mar 29th 2016, 9:50 PM

    Very good Ian..

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    Mute Grot Master
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    Mar 29th 2016, 10:07 PM

    Couldn’t see either of them agreeing to it.

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    Mute Proinsias Ó Foghlú
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    Mar 29th 2016, 8:59 PM

    There is crazy and then there is crazy republicans. We even have them over here!

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    Mute Diarmuid
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    Mar 29th 2016, 9:51 PM

    How many guns in a Sinn Féin Ard Fheis?!

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    Mute Rob Cahill
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    Mar 30th 2016, 9:42 AM

    Exactly how small are their C@<ks that they need the extensions everywhere they go???

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    Mute prouesse f
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    Mar 29th 2016, 9:10 PM

    Disarm the world! No more tools of death! ! Ain’t ppl sick of blood shed?

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    Mute Conor Heffernan
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    Mar 29th 2016, 9:50 PM

    Save lives – bring guns. In other news DEY TUK ERR JEOBS

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    Mute Anthony Ryan
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    Mar 30th 2016, 10:17 AM

    Durpa durb!!

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    Mute gordon larney
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    Mar 29th 2016, 9:42 PM

    Sure guys go ahead,,, what could possibly go wrong…………….

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    Mute Watchful Axe
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    Mar 29th 2016, 10:03 PM

    How many of those 50k signatures were democrats. :-P

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    Mute Mark
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    Mar 30th 2016, 8:24 AM

    How many were just an X?

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    Mute Gerald Horgan
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    Mar 29th 2016, 10:12 PM

    Jesus America is a great country but …..

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Mar 29th 2016, 11:46 PM

    Nomination by duel!!!!

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    Mute Noah Wilson
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    Mar 29th 2016, 11:23 PM

    Can’t see any problem. They’re all responsible citizens.

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    Mute Noel Ryan
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    Mar 30th 2016, 9:37 AM

    Let’s all bring hurleys to the next GAA Annual Convention

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    Mute Frank Carty
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    Mar 29th 2016, 11:02 PM

    The face off should be held at gun Pont

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    Mute kieran Curran
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    Mar 29th 2016, 11:32 PM

    At gun bridge?

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Apr 1st 2016, 2:44 AM

    Making America great again….

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