HONOLULU --

5:53 a.m. Wednesday
Sorry, things have been crazy for all of us all night. As I'm sure you've heard -- Flossie is now a tropical storm. It will dump more rains and bring the winds. Ben and Justin have been doing great sticking around at the station for about 14 hour shifts to help the other out.

Also congratulations to Justin who just received his meteorology degree.

And thank you to everyone who has sent in pictures of the storm. Keep sending them in here.

4:11 p.m.
From Ben in the weather center:

One of the tools we're using here calculates how long it would take a storm or rainfall to reach a certain point on land. I took the leading edge of the storm on Doppler radar and looked at how long it would take the closest rainband to reach Na`alehu if it were moving WNW at 7 miles per hour. The computer says it won't get there until 8:53 p.m.! But that's if it maintains current forward momentum, which has been slowing quite a bit in the last one to two hours. It could still speed again, of course.

3:53 p.m.
From Ben in the Weather Center:

Justin and I have noticed that Flossie forward WNW motion has slowed to a crawl. We took some distance calculations and it appears the center of the storm on Doppler radar has barely moved in the last hour.

2:50 p.m.
You can see the winds picking up in this picture from the KITV crew on the southside.

2:35 p.m.
Right now, we are just waiting to see how much of an impact the storm is going to make at this point.

1:55 p.m.
The latest 2 p.m. update from the National Weather Service shows that the storm is continuing on track. Some of the maps show that while the island will be rains, it may not be as severe as originally feared. The surf is climbing however.

1:38 p.m.
I've added the video to Keoki Kerr's report from the Big Island that happened shortly after noon. Check it out in the video section of the front page.

1:16 p.m.

From Ben in the Weather Center: Just got an e-mail from one of our weather spotters in Mountain View. She says things have been calm and quiet in her area as of 1 p.m., but she recorded two inches of rain in her backyard gauge.

Keoki also sent in a report from the Na`alehu ACE Hardware store: If you want a flashlight or "D" batteries, you're out of luck.

My sister called from Texas about a half-hour ago, wondering if everything in Honolulu is okay. People who are not on the Big Island may have a bit of disconnect between what we've been showing on the air and the weather outside their windows. Right now in downtown Honolulu it's mostly sunny with slightly gusty winds, but we're starting to pick up some high cirrus clouds related to Flossie. Justin just started a time-lapse recording, which we'll show you this evening.

Justin and I are also looking pretty closely at the latest infrared images with a little concern, because it looks like the center of Flossie is trying to hold together and re-form an eye.

Next intermediate update from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center is expected at 2 p.m. Justin will have that for you at that time. 12:37 p.m.
National Weather Service wind data indicating wind gusts near 50 mph in the Kawaihae area of the Big Island. High wind speed likely the result of strong northeast winds funneling through Waimea in the saddle betweenthe Kohala Mountains and Mauna Kea.

11:23 a.m.
Update from Justin in the Weather Center: Ben and I have been analyzing the 11 a.m. update and what strikes us most, is that the reach of tropical storm winds have decreased from 145 miles from the center, to 105 miles. Basically, the storm's size and reach of potentially damaging effects are diminishing in size. Flossie is still expected to pass about 80 miles south of South Point around sundown (due to a slow down in foward motion), so tropical storm winds are still expected for the extreme southern regions of the Big Island.

11:18 a.m.
Hurricane Flossie is holding its track and strength for the most part. More news coming.

10:43 a.m.
Just got this note from Betty Springer:

Mahalo nui for this blog tracking Flossie as she nears the Big Island. I am stuck here in Texas worrying about not only our home on the Big Island but more importantly about all of our friends there, especially those on the southern part of the island. I deeply appreciate being able to follow as a "real live person" posts on the blog. Again, mahalo!! Betty Springer
Texas & Waikoloa, Hawai'i

Thanks Betty. We are hoping for the best for everyone.

10:15 a.m.
National Weather Service wind data indicating gusts near 40 mph around South Point on the Big Island and 37 mph near `Upolu Point.

10:04 a.m.
Couple of quick notes. Check out our doppler radar of the Big Island. You can start to see the rains from Flossie in the bottom right corner as it approaches the Big Island more clearly now.

Also, don't forget to send in what is going on in your neighborhoods by e-mail and with pictures. We want to know if the winds have picked up or if things are even quiet so far.

9:57 a.m.
Keoki says that waves in Punaluu Beach Park, also know as Black Sand Beach, has reached 10-15 feet. He spoke with a couple of men from Ocean View who said they plan to go bodyboarding when the surf gets bigger.

Here is a picture of the beach that he sent back:

Police have warned some people to stay away from the shore. They used their sirens at one point to warn several people who tried to walk close to the shore break to take pictures of the waves.

Hawaii County Civil Defense officials closed some roads in Na`alehu local traffic only. That means only residents are being allowed to and from their homes.

9:43 a.m.
I received a photo from Steve Roberson in Waipio.

He said this was taken at 8:30 a.m. Thanks Steve.

9:40 a.m.
Ben again. Just got off the phone with Hawaii County Civil Defense in Hilo. They're ready and waiting. So far, things have been relatively quiet, with a few rain bands in the Ka'u area, but most of the heavy rain is still to the southeast.

9:29 a.m.
From Ben in the Weather Center:

Justin and I are both in the weather center this morning. I'm doing the on air duties right now and both of us are working on crunching the data and the graphics, as well as keeping up with the latest developments.

Currently, Flossie's winds are still a concern. We've been talking about the center, or eye of Flossie, which is how its position is pegged, at least in a meteorological way. However, we emphasize that tropical storm force winds of 39 to 74 miles per hour stretch north 145 miles. The center is to pass 70 miles south of South Point. But if you do the math, that means tropical storm force winds will be possible from South Point to 75 miles northward. That would include the area of East Hawaii up to Hilo.

We'll keep you posted throughout the day. In the meantime, send photos or any stories you may have to Brent so we can put them here.

9:05 a.m.
Keoki says that as he drives farther south he finds fewer cars on the road. It is not a heavily populated area to begin with. Many of the businesses in the area have closed, he said.

8:17 a.m.
The newsroom is very busy with crews planning for the hourly updates and trying to get the latest information. Gary Sprinkle and Pamela Young are heading our news coverage. Weather anchors Justin Fujioka and Ben Gutierrez are both checking with the National Weather Service, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the data their computers are culling.

8:13 a.m.
Keoki Kerr says they are traveling south to Ka`u to check on the surf. He say that they are driving on Highway 11 and that they are receiving a steady heavy rain. Rain is not unusual for the area. However, with rain already falling, Flossie's precipitation could fall on already soaked land.

Keoki took this picture as they drove through Kurtistown.

He says that the rains are heavy in the Mountain View area as well. He mentioned that the traffic seems to be at a normal level. It is not as if people are avoiding the roads. He said that there is even a cement truck on the road with them.

7:50 a.m.
KITV reporter Keoki Kerr calls in to tell us that Hilo Harbor has been closed. Here is a link to the story.

The closure happened about an hour before the Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of Hawaii was scheduled to arrive. Incidentally, it was the highest passenger count for an NCL ship at about 2,900 passengers since the company began sailing Hawaii's waters.

The ship will make port in Kahului, Maui, on Wednesday. There was no room for the ship on Tuesday.

7:31 a.m.
My name is Brent Suyama and I am the managing editor for the news on TheHawaiiChannel.com. I will provide updates about the storm and our KITV coverage throughout the day.

KITV will go on the air with hourly updates with the ability to go to continuous coverage when the situation warrants it. KITV reporter Keoki Kerr and photographer Rex Von Arnswaldt are on the Big Island covering the situation there.

Please send me an e-mail about what the weather situation is like in your area and send pictures of what is going on so we can show other people in Hawaii and the world how Hurricane Flossie is making an impact.

Aloha and stay safe everyone.