(BIVN) – Although Hurricane Lane is a category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 120 mph, the Hurricane Warning for the Big Island has been changed to a Tropical Storm Warning.

Some weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours, but Lane is still expected to remain a hurricane as it draws closer to the islands. Tropical storm conditions are expected on portions of the Big Island tonight and Friday.

Over two feet of rain has already fallen at a couple of locations on the windward side of the Big Island, the National Weather Service says. Excessive rainfall associated with this slow moving hurricane will continue to impact the Hawaiian Islands into the weekend, leading to significant and life-threatening flash flooding and landslides, forecasters say.

Lane is a slow-moving storm, presently heading north northwest at 6 mph, and large swells will be generated by the hurricane. “These swells will produce very large and damaging surf along exposed west and south facing shorelines. A prolonged period of high surf will likely lead to significant coastal erosion,” the Central Pacific Hurricane Center says. “The combination of a dangerous storm surge and large breaking waves will raise water levels by as much as 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels along south and west facing shores near the center of Lane. The surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.”

According to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center discussion posted at 5 pm HST: