Residents and tourists in Hawaii are bracing for one hurricane -- while keeping a close eye on a possible second.
The Central Pacific Hurricane Center in the state capital of Honolulu says Hurricane Iselle is on a path toward the state's largest island, carrying maximum sustained winds near 150 kilometers an hour. Forecasters issued a hurricane warning for part of the state and expect Iselle to produce heavy rains, life-threatening storm surges and flash floods Thursday night on the so-called Big Island.
Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie has declared a state of emergency, as residents rushed to local stores to buy emergency supplies of bottled water and batteries.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Julio is churning over the Pacific Ocean several thousand kilometers east of Hawaii, with maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers an hour, making it a category two storm on the five-point scale that measures potential destructive power.
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida say Julio poses no threat to land, and expect the storm to begin gradually weakening beginning Thursday.
