Hurricane Lane unleashes rain as it shifts closer to Hawaii

Hurricane Lane soaked Hawaii's Big Island, dumping nearly 20 inches of rain in nearly 24 hours as residents stocked up on supplies and tried to protect their homes ahead of the state's first hurricane since 1992.

The National Weather Service warned that Lane will get "perilously close" to Hawaii and that some areas could see up to 30 inches (about 80 centimeters) before the system passes. Lane was not projected to make direct hit on the islands, but officials warned that even a lesser blow could do significant harm.

"You do not need a direct strike to have major impacts from a hurricane this strong," said Steve Goldstein, a meteorologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Washington.

The centre of the Category 4 storm was predicted to move close to or over portions of the main islands later yesterday or on Friday, bringing dangerous surf of 20 feet (6 metres) and a storm surge of up to 4 feet (1 metre), forecasters said. As of 11 am yesterday, the hurricane was about 275 miles (460 kilometres) south of Honolulu.

Lane "shifted a little closer to the islands, unfortunately", meteorologist Melissa Dye said. "Big Island and Maui are in the thick of it now." As Lane moved closer to the islands, it was expected to weaken more rapidly and turn toward the west. But it was unknown exactly when that would happen, forecasters said.

Pablo Akira Beimler, who lives on the coast in Honokaa on the Big Island, said the road to Hilo was cut off due to landslides. "Rain has been nonstop for the last half hour or so and winds are just starting to pick up,"