Tropical Depression Kilo continues to move away from the Hawaiian Islands, forecasters with the Central Pacific Hurricane Center reported Monday. It is expected to hit the Johnston Islands as a tropical storm Monday night.
Kilo, which reached tropical storm strength early Friday before passing south of the state this weekend, is expected to strengthen Monday, reaching tropical storm strength before passing about 100 miles east of the island Monday night, forecasters said. As of 8 a.m., Kilo was located 805 miles west-southwest of Kailua-Kona, circulating 35 mph winds and moving toward the northwest at 7 mph.
Johnston Island is located more than 800 miles west-southwest of Honolulu.
In addition to Kilo, forecasters continue to keep tabs on Tropical Storm Loke, the fifth named storm of the Central Pacific hurricane season. The storm, located 1,380 miles west-southwest of Kailua-Kona, featured maximum sustained winds of 65 mph.
A hurricane warning has been issued for Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, from Pearl and Hermes Atoll to Lisianski Island. A tropical storm warning is effect for Midway Island and portions of the monument, from Lisianski Island to Maro Reef.
Elsewhere in the Central Pacific basin, no tropical cyclones are expected through Wednesday morning, forecasters said.
In the Eastern Pacific, forecasters continue to monitor an area of disturbed weather located several hundred miles off the coast of Mexico, as well as a low-pressure system about 1,500 west-southwest of the Baja California peninsula. Both have the potential for tropical cyclone development during the coming days.
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.
