weather

Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister has blamed “extraordinary rainfall” and changes to weather patterns for disasters in the Pacific Island nation this year. HPR's Derrick Malama has more in today's Pacific News Minute.

Hawaiʻi could be in for a very dry summer and fall. La Niña conditions generally spell a hotter “dry season.” Meteorologist John Bravender stopped by the station Wednesday morning to talk about the weather and getting prepared for hurricane season.

Forecasters say this year's hurricane season for waters around Hawaiʻi will likely be "below normal" with one to four tropical cyclones across the central Pacific region. That estimate includes tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes.

The Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization is set to receive close to $900,000 in federal funds that will go towards developing community wildfire protection plans for seven communities across Hawaiʻi.

The state Department of Health said heavy rain resulted in stormwater runoff entering into coastal waters.

Senate Bill 2972 states that warmer seas and fewer trade winds make Hawaiʻi more vulnerable to strong hurricanes. No public buildings in the state are currently designed to withstand a Category 5 storm with wind speeds of 157 mph or higher.

Powerful surf is rolling onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaiʻi as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushes toward shorelines. In Hawaiʻi, the National Weather Service forecast surf rising to 30 to 40 feet along north-facing shores and 18 to 22 feet along west-facing shores of five islands.

The end of the year brings seasonal changes to much of the world. In parts of Southeast Asia, it means monsoon season — and this year the rains are heavy — and so is the flooding. HPR's Bill Dorman has more in this Asia Minute.

Drivers are encouraged to use the Likelike Highway or the H-3 to travel between the windward side and Honolulu until further notice.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says the earthquake hit at 5:54 p.m. Monday near the Kīlauea volcano. Officials say the initial quake and a magnitude 3.0 aftershock were not related to volcanic activity. Aftershocks are likely to continue.