(KRON)  Maui County and Hawaii County are under hurricane watch as Category 2 Lester careens toward the islands.

The storm is on a track to pass just north of the island chain and the eye of the storm isn’t expected to make landfall. But meteorologist Ian Morrison from the National Weather Service says if the storm veers to the south, it could have a much greater impact.ADDITIONAL COVERAGE: HONOLULU’S KHON-TV

Lester is expected to slowly weaken and remain a hurricane as it blows by the state. After it passes it’s expected to further weaken to a tropical storm.

Morrison says the eastern part of the state could be hit with heavy rains and tropical storm or hurricane-force winds starting Friday night. He says all islands could be impacted as the storm passes.