As Hawaii braces for the impacts of Hurricane Douglas, a new study by University of Hawaii researchers on the impact of a 2018 storm sheds light on how a hurricane and the islands’ unique topography could increase wildfire risks.
In 2018, Hurricane Lane unleashed record-breaking rainfall on Hawaii. But according to the study released Wednesday, Lane could have also been the first storm to produce both heavy rain and fire.
Researchers said conditions at the edge of the storm were dry and windy, increasing the risk for wildfires. Meanwhile, the moist atmosphere near the center of the storm brought intense rainfall and flooding.