09-02-2018, 01:55 PM
Kirt,
Firstly, Lane was too far west to cause damaging winds on the Big Island, even Kona. Secondly, Lane dragged up an awful lot of tropical moisture behind it. This moisture reached the island on south-easterly winds. Though a process called orographic lift, this moisture was forced up the slopes of the mountains, condensed and fell on the east side of the island. You can almost think of it as squeezing a wet sponge. Because all that moisture was removed from the atmosphere, there was little left to fall on the Kona side.
Hope this helps.
Firstly, Lane was too far west to cause damaging winds on the Big Island, even Kona. Secondly, Lane dragged up an awful lot of tropical moisture behind it. This moisture reached the island on south-easterly winds. Though a process called orographic lift, this moisture was forced up the slopes of the mountains, condensed and fell on the east side of the island. You can almost think of it as squeezing a wet sponge. Because all that moisture was removed from the atmosphere, there was little left to fall on the Kona side.
Hope this helps.