Hurricane Iona remained a Category 3 storm well south of the Hawaiian Islands Tuesday morning while Tropical Storm Keli continued to track westward far to the southeast of the state, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.
At 11 a.m., Iona was located about 735 miles south-southeast of Honolulu, packing maximum sustained winds of 125 mph with higher gusts. The hurricane was moving west at 14 mph, and forecasters expect that motion to continue with some increase in forward speed over the next couple of days.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center, while tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 90 miles, forecasters said. Some additional strengthening is possible today, but steady weakening is expected to begin by today.
Tropical Storm Keli, meanwhile, was located about 795 miles southeast of Honolulu with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph and higher gusts. Keli was moving west at 15 mph and is expected to maintain that general motion over the next couple of days.
The system is forecast to hold its strength and track for the next day or two before weakening and dissipating on Thursday.
There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect for either storm, and both are expected to stay well south of the Hawaiian Islands.
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Hurricane Iona rapidly strengthened overnight into a Category 3 hurricane well south of the Hawaiian Islands and is expected to reach Category 4 intensity later Tuesday, forecasters said.
At 5 a.m., Iona was located about 765 miles south-southeast of Honolulu, packing maximum sustained winds near 125 mph and moving west at 13 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center, while tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles, forecasters said.
Some additional strengthening is possible today before steady weakening begins today. Iona is forecast to turn slightly to the west-northwest later this week but remain well south of the islands.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Keli continues to track west with little change in strength.
At 5 a.m., Keli was about 895 miles southeast of Honolulu with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph and higher gusts. The system was moving west at 13 mph and is expected to maintain that strength and direction over the next 48 hours.
Forecasters said that neither Iona nor Keli currently pose a threat to Hawaii, and no coastal watches or warnings are in effect.
Locally, the National Weather Service said trade winds will strengthen over the next couple of days to moderate to locally breezy levels as a high-pressure system builds north of the state. Clouds and showers will favor windward and mauka areas, particularly overnight and during the early morning hours, as a stable, drier air mass settles over the islands into the weekend.
Source: The Garden Island