Tropical Storm Pali, the earliest Central Pacific storm on record, is expected to weaken over the weekend, Central Pacific Hurricane Center forecasters reported Friday.
Tropical Storm Pali, the earliest Central Pacific storm on record, is expected to weaken over the weekend, Central Pacific Hurricane Center forecasters reported Friday.
Pali was located far southwest of Hawaii, about 1,405 miles southwest of Kailua-Kona, and circulating 65 mph winds as of Friday evening, forecasters said. It was moving northwest at 5 mph.
Forecasters say ocean temperatures remain sufficiently warm for additional strengthening, however, data indicates wind shear should result in weakening over the next few days.
By Sunday evening, forecasters expect Pali to remain a tropical storm packing 50 mph winds.
The Central Pacific hurricane season runs June 1 to Nov. 30. Pali follows an active 2015 Central Pacific hurricane season, which saw 16 tropical cyclones impact the basin.
Though not a common occurrence, storms have formed outside the June 1 to Nov. 30 season. Before Pali, the last time was Tropical Storm Omeka in mid-December 2010. Since 1960, when the world’s first meteorological satellite was launched, other occurrences were recorded in early June 2001, December 1997, January and March of 1992, April 1990, twice in June 1978, and January 1971.