Lane strengthens to a category 4 hurricane

Hurricane Lane has strengthened to a category 4 storm, with maximum sustained winds near 140 mph.

As of 11 a.m. Saturday, the cyclone was moving west-northwest near 15 mph, and was expected to enter the central Pacific basin in a few hours.

Gradual weakening is expected Sunday, though Lane will remain a major hurricane for the next couple days.

Hurricane-force winds extend up to 25 miles from the center, with tropical-storm-force winds reaching out 105 miles.

The impacts of the hurricane to the Hawaii Island remain unclear at this time. The five-day forecast, which includes a high degree of uncertainty, show it passing the island to the south.

By Thursday, it is forecast to weaken to a tropical storm.