Hurricane Hector is passing south of the Big Island, and the tropical storm warning for Hawaii County has been discontinued.
As of 11 a.m., the Category 3 storm was about 220 miles south of Hilo and continues to weaken, with maximum sustained winds of 115 miles an hour, moving west at 16 mph. This general motion is expected to continue through Thursday, with a gradual turn toward the northwest expected Friday and Saturday.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the storm’s center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles. Slight weakening is forecast during the next couple of days.
Swells generated by Hector will bring large and dangerous surf to portions of the main Hawaiian islands through tonight.