Hawaii Hurricane First to Hit in 22 Years: Here's What to Expect

Hawaii is less than a day away from the first direct hurricane to hit the area in 22 years. Iselle is predicted to strike straight on as a Category 1 tropical storm. 

"It's a fairly potent hurricane by Hawaiian standards," Weather Channel meteorologist Kevin Roth said, via the Daily Beast. 

Though much of the tropical storm's strength and severity is predicted to fall by the time it hits Honolulu on Friday, Julio, a second hurricane, is predicted to ramp back up to a Category 2 Hurricane and hit the area again on Sunday.

The last tropial storm to make a big impact on the island wasn't seen since 1958 and did not have the energy that Iselle is predicted to carry.

Estimates show that this storm will garner a speed of up to 85-mph winds, and is expected to hit northern regions first before traveling to Hawaii.

Though the two storms by themselves would be unlikely to result in significant damages, NBC News forecasters predict that together, they are likely to cause quite a bit of damage. Gov. Neil Abercrombie also signed an emergency proclamation, urging island residents to make safety plans and prepare for the disaster.

When Isele strikes, "we'll have power outages likely from all the wind, and maybe some flooding, as well, from all the heavy rain," added Ari Sarsalari, a meteorologist for The Weather Channel, via NBC News.

When a hurricane strikes, also classified as a type of tropical storm, it stores up energy as it moves across the ocean by sucking up warm, moist tropical air from the water's surface. According to writer Robert Lamb of the science website "How Stuff Works," we might think of it has a storm breathing in and out. As the hurricane gains momentum and energy, it is continually "breathing in" until it begins to lose power by unleashing its winds.

The strength and power of a hurricane certainly varies. However, protecting yourself from a disastrous weather issue is essentially the same despite the nature of any storm's severity. For more information on a range of tips and safety guidelines, click here.