Guillermo weakened to a tropical depression as it passed north of the Big Island, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center reported Thursday. ADVERTISING Guillermo weakened to a tropical depression as it passed north of the Big Island, the Central Pacific Hurricane
Guillermo weakened to a tropical depression as it passed north of the Big Island, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center reported Thursday.
Guillermo, located 140 miles north of Kailua-Kona, was circulating 35 mph winds and tracking toward the west at 9 mph, forecasters said.
Very strong vertical wind shear and drier air are forecast to continue to weaken storm, which peaked as a Category 2 hurricane last week, to remnant low Friday. The current forecast track for Guillermo has the storm clipping Oahu and passing over Kauai and Niihau as a depression on Friday.
Guillermo has a near zero chance of redevelopment as a flattening upper level trough to the north will maintain strong vertical wind shear and dry air aloft overhead during the next few days, forecasters added.
A high surf advisory remains posted for east-facing shores of the Big Island’s northern, eastern and southern coasts through 6 a.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service in Honolulu. Wave heights of 10 to 15 feet are forecast.
The service categorized the surf’s impact as “high,” noting that people should expect ocean water to occasionally sweep across portions of beaches and very strong breaking waves and currents. Such conditions may occasionally make navigating harbor channels dangerous.
The Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu discontinued tropical storm and flash flood watches for the state Wednesday.
The Central North Pacific and Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons continue through Nov. 30.
Get more hurricane-related content, including preparation tips, evacuation info and daily tropical weather updates, on our hurricane season page, sponsored by Clark Realty, at www.westhawaiitoday.com/hurricane-season-2015.
