Tropical Storm Oho could bring localized heavy rainfall and thunderstorms to the Big Island on Monday, forecasters with the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu say. ADVERTISING Tropical Storm Oho could bring localized heavy rainfall and thunderstorms to the Big
Tropical Storm Oho could bring localized heavy rainfall and thunderstorms to the Big Island on Monday, forecasters with the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu say.
Located 375 miles south-southeast of Kailua-Kona, Oho was circulating 65 mph winds and tracking northeast at 7 mph as of 11 a.m. Monday. On its current forecast track, the storm is expected to pass south and east of the Big Island. Though the storm is not expected to significantly impact to the state, it will bring moisture tothe neighborhood that is expected to fuel inclement weather around the Big Island and Maui County.
A tropical storm warning has been posted for offshore Hawaiian waters between 40 and 240 nautical miles out, including the portion of the Papahanamokuakea Marine National Monument east of French Frigate Shoals.
Some strengthening is forecast for Tropical Storm Oho through Wednesday morning as the storm moves over 84-degree waters. Current forecast models show the storm peaking with 70 mph winds Tuesday before beginning to weaken. By Friday, forecasters expect the storm to be circulating 50 mph winds as it heads tracks away from Hawaii and toward the North American coast steered by a mid-level ridge extending from the northeast Pacific to just east of the Big Island.
As of 11 a.m. Monday, tropical storm-force winds extended outward up to 125 miles from the center of Oho.
Southwest of the state, forecasters are monitoring the remnants of Tropical Depression 8C located 1,380 miles southwest of Honolulu. Thunderstorm activity has picked up recently, however, forecasters do not expect conditions to be conducive for redevelopment within the next couple of days as the disturbance tracks northwest around 10 mph.
In the Eastern Pacific, no tropical cyclones are expected to form within the next five days, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The National Hurricane Center monitors storms in the Eastern Pacific and Atlantic oceans while the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu monitors the Central Pacific. The Central Pacific comprises an area spanning from 140 degrees west longitude to the international date line. Hawaii falls within this area.
The Central 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.
