User:Yellow Evan/Hector

On July 28, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) indicated that a broad area of low pressure formed several hundred miles south-southeast of Acapulco, Mexico. The system gradually developed over the next few days and was designated as a tropical depression early on July 31. Six hours later, on August 1, the depression strengthened into a tropical storm and was given the name Hector. For the next several days, Hector generally traveled west without gaining much latitude. It quickly strengthened and was near hurricane strength by 03:00 UTC on August 2. At the same time, microwave imagery indicated the emergence of a mid-level eye and that rapid intensification would soon take place. During the next 12 hours, Hector entered a period of rapid intensification, becoming an upper-end Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h). Less favorable conditions aloft and an eyewall replacement cycle took toll on the storm and by 15:00 UTC on August 3, had weakened into a Category 1 hurricane. However, once the cycle completed itself, it was upgraded into major hurricane on August 4. The next day, Hector attained its initial peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h). Following a series of eyewall replacement cycles, the storm entered the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) on August 6.

Early on August 7, Hector obtained its peak intensity of 155 mph (250 km/h), as indicated by a reconnaissance aircraft that had been investigating the storm. Later on the same day, Hector weakened due to intrusion of drier air; the storm was downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane on August 8, shortly before making its closet approach to the Big Island. Interal core changes kept Hector steady in intensity for a while, before achieving a secondary peak intensity of 140 mph (220 km/h). Meanwhile, Hector reached the western edge of a strong subtropical ridge to its north, and took a turn to the west-northwest. On August 11, Hector began weakening again as it began to encounter more hostile conditions. Around this time, the hurricane set the record for the longest consecutive duration as a major hurricane in the East and Central Pacific. Increasingly stronger wind shear disrupted the inner core of the hurricane, and Hector had fallen to Category 1 intensity early on August 12.

Although forecasts depicted Hector remaining south of Hawaii, concerns were raised over the safety of residents displaced in non-hurricane proof structures by the ongoing eruption of Kīlauea. A tropical storm watch was issued for Hawaii County on August 6; this was later upgraded to a tropical storm warning. On August 7, Hawaii County mayor Wil Okabe declared a state of emergency. All absentee-walkin voting sites and Whittington, Punaluu, and Milolii Beach Parks in Hawaii County were closed. The tropical storm warning was discontinued later that day as the inner core stayed far offshore. Up to 20 ft high surf was reported along the south facing shores on the Big Island. Elsewhere, at least 90 people necessitated rescue on Oahu due to dangerous swells generated by the cyclone.

On August 9, Johnston Atoll briefly received a tropical storm watch as Hector approached the atoll, A few days later, a tropical storm watch was issued for portions of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, along with the waters between Kure Atoll and Midway Atoll.