Fausto weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm as it tracked toward Hawaii this week, but airlines and travelers are still watching its path closely. The National Hurricane Center’s latest forecast carries the storm just north of the islands, with sustained winds down to around 45 mph by the time it passes, a significant drop from the 100 mph winds recorded when Fausto was still a Category 2 hurricane roughly 1,060 miles east of Hilo.
WestJet activated a hurricane travel advisory for guests flying to or from Hawaii, waiving change and cancellation fees for flight-only bookings tied to the storm. As of the most recent update, however, major U.S. carriers including Hawaiian Airlines, United, Delta and American had not issued similar waivers or severe weather advisories, and Hawaiian Airlines reported just a single cancellation across its network over the weekend.
The bigger concern for travelers already on the islands is surf and swells rather than wind. The Hurricane Center said swells generated by Fausto would reach Hawaii well ahead of the storm itself, building along east-facing shores starting over the weekend and spreading toward western shorelines through Tuesday. Lifeguards and officials are warning of life-threatening surf and strong rip currents even as the storm’s wind field weakens.
For now, most flight schedules into and out of Hawaii remain unaffected, and no island airport has reported significant storm-related delays. Travelers with trips this week should still keep an eye on their airline’s alerts in case that changes, and anyone planning beach time, especially on east-facing coasts, should check local surf and ocean safety advisories before heading into the water.
Sources: Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Yahoo News
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