WEAKENING MADELINE TO PASS TO THE SOUTH OF HAWAII

Hurricane warnings were downgraded Wednesday to tropical storm warnings for the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe, as hurricane Madeline weakened into a tropical storm on its approach to the Hawaiian Islands and was expected to veer to the south of the central Pacific chain early Thursday. Late Wednesday, Madeline was centred around 105 miles southeast of Hilo, Hawaii, moving west/southwest at 12 mph with sustained winds of 70 mph. The storm is expected to bring 5 to 10 inches of rain to the Big Island, with isolated amounts of up to 15 inches, particularly over windward areas. East-facing shores of the Big Island could see damaging surf conditions. Meanwhile, hurricane Lester has strengthened into a category 4 storm with sustained winds of 130 mph as it reached the central Pacific on a track that is expected to take it just north of Hawaii early Saturday.