Atoll To Be Hit By Typhoon Wednesday

As ANN staffers can tell you, from our offices in central Florida... all eyes are on Tropical Storm Ernesto as it trods along towards the US mainland. But there is actually an even more potentially damaging storm out there, brewing in the Pacific.

The Air Force says Super Typhoon Ioke is expected to hit Wake Island sometime Wednesday... and in order to evacuate the nearly 200 military, DoD and civilian employees at the base, they're hauling out the heavy-lifters: two C-17 Globemaster transports, from Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii.

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin reports the storm is currently about 800 miles east of the Wake Atoll... and forecasters expect a nearly direct hit, with the eye of the storm coming as close as 14 miles from land.

"It is expected to retain its strength," said National Weather Service forecaster Bob Burke.

Burke added the storm, expected to be a category-five monster when it hits Wednesday afternoon, will hit Wake Island with 140 knot winds, and crashing waves.

Located 2,300 miles west of Hawaii, the Air Force facility at Wake Island supports the US Pacific Command. The base provides vehicles, aerospace ground equipment, aviation fuel and other assest to maintain aircraft for combat operations.

FMI: www.af.mil