Jimena weakened to a Category 3 hurricane late Monday far east of the Big Island. ADVERTISING Jimena weakened to a Category 3 hurricane late Monday far east of the Big Island. Located 955 miles east of the Big Island as
Jimena weakened to a Category 3 hurricane late Monday far east of the Big Island.
Located 955 miles east of the Big Island as of 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jimena was circulating 120 mph winds and tracking toward the west-northwest at 7 mph, forecasters said. The storm is now within the Central Pacific basin, which is where Hawaii is located.
Further weakening is forecast for Jimena, despite the hurricane remaining over warm waters and encountering little wind shear. By early Sunday, Jimena is forecast to be a tropical storm packing 65 mph winds and tracking toward the north-northwest about 700 miles northeast of Hilo.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Ignacio weakened to a Category 1 storm late Monday as it continued to pass north of the Hawaiian Islands. As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, Ignacio featured 75 mph winds and was located 295 miles north-northeast of Kailua-Kona. The hurricane is currently headed toward the northwest at 10 mph, according to forecasters.
Continued weakening is forecast, and Ignacio should be downgraded to a tropical storm by Thursday, according to forecast models.
Though Ignacio is located well north of the Big Island, the hurricane is producing warning-level surf along east-facing shores of the island. Wave heights of 10 to 15 feet are forecast through 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Several East Hawaii beaches, as well as a highway in Hilo, are closed Tuesday because of the high surf. Click here for more details.
Also Tuesday, Tropical Depression 14-E continued to churn in the Eastern Pacific about 695 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. Slow strengthening is forecast and the depression could become Tropical Storm Kevin on Tuesday night or Wednesday. It’s forecast to peak as a tropical storm packing 50 mph winds Wednesday before beginning to weaken.
Elsewhere, no tropical cyclones are expected through Thursday afternoon, forecasters said.
The Central North and Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons run 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.
