Hurricane lane path: latest images show lane’s path to hawaii

Lane is classified as a powerful Category 4 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane strength. It was expected to hit the Big Island overnight and slam the island of Maui

today. In lieu of a direct hit, "Lane has the potential of bringing the state of Hawaii serious and perhaps record damage," according to AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan

Kottlowski. To the north, Oahu was under a hurricane warning while Kauai remained on hurricane watch meaning it could face similar conditions starting Friday morning. Governor David Ige

urged residents to prepare for the worst by setting aside a 14-day supply of water, food and medicines. Packing sustained winds of up to 130 miles per hour (215 km per hour),  could dump as

much as 20 inches of rain, triggering flash floods and landslides, the National Weather Service said. As of early Thursday,  was centered about 230 miles (370 km) south-southwest of

Kailua-Kona, a town on the west coast of the Big Island, the NWS said.  The NWS said the storm weakened slightly overnight but excessive rainfall would affect the Hawaiian islands into the

weekend, "leading to significant and life-threatening flash flooding and landslides." The center also warned of "very large and damaging surf" along exposed west- and

south-facing shorelines. A  warning was in effect for Oahu, Maui County and Hawaii County. The islands of Kauai and Niihau remained on  watch and could face similar conditions starting

Friday morning. The most powerful  on record to hit Hawaii was Category 4 Iniki, which made landfall on Kauai island on Sept. 11, 1992, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration. It killed six people and damaged or destroyed more than 14,000 homes.