Iselle downgraded from hurricane to tropical storm 50 miles from Hawaii; winds at 70 mph.

HONOLULU, Hawaii – The National Weather Service has downgraded Iselle to a tropical storm.

Iselle became a tropical storm when its winds slowed to 70 mph, but residents should still take precautions, the service said.

Iselle is the first tropical storm to hit the state in 22 years, and another hurricane is following in its path. Hurricane Julio, a Category 3 storm, is about 1,000 miles behind in the Pacific.

Iselle, which is moving at 10 mph, was expected to pass overnight across the Big Island and then send rain and high winds to the rest of the state Friday. The storm’s predicted track had it skirting just south of the other islands.

People have flowed into emergency shelters on the Big Island, airlines have cancelled flights and the National Guard is at the ready.

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