HOUSTON: The first Atlantic hurricane of 2020 was downgraded to a tropical storm Sunday after lashing coronavirus-hit Texas, as Hawaii braced for its own battering. Hanna was still packing winds of around 45 miles (72 kilometers) an hour as it crossed from the Lone Star state over northeastern Mexico, meteorologists said.
"Additional weakening is expected as the center of Hanna moves farther inland, and the cyclone is expected to weaken to a tropical depression later today and dissipate Monday or Monday night," the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported.
President Donald Trump tweeted as Hanna made landfall Saturday that his administration would "coordinate closely" with state authorities and urged locals to "protect your family & property!"
Damage appeared limited in the immediate aftermath of Hanna's arrival on Padre Island around 5:00 pm (2200 GMT), with some isolated flooding and power outages. A second storm system - Pacific Hurricane Douglas - was bearing down on the Hawaiian islands Sunday morning and was expected to move over parts of the state later in the day and on Monday.
A hurricane warning was in effect for Maui and Kauai counties, as well as Oahu - the island on which Honolulu - a city of just under 350,000 - is located. The hurricane was about 235 miles east of the capital Honolulu at 5:00 am (1500 GMT), packing winds of up to 90 miles per hour.
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