Hone getting stronger, Gilma weakening
Tropical Storm Hone continues to intensify as it continues to approach Hawaii.
At 8 a.m., the center of the storm was about 570 miles east-southeast of Hilo. Hone is packing maximum sustained winds of 45 mph with locally higher gusts. The storm is moving west at 16 mph. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from the storm’s center.
ADVERTISING
Some gradual strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days.
On the forecast track, the center of Hone is expected to pass near or south of the Big Island Saturday night.
A tropical storm watch remains in effect for Hawaii County. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within the next 48 hours.
Hurricane Gilma is still a Category-3 storm, but continues to weaken as it moves westward.
At 5 a.m., Gilma was 1,855 miles east of Hilo. Maximum sustained winds are 115 mph. The storm is moving west at 8 mph.
On its current track, Gilma is forecast to weaken to a tropical storm before crossing into the Central Pacific, which is expected to happen sometime Monday. It is expected to further dissipate into a tropical depression before passing north of Hawaii.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles from the center.
