KAILUA-KONA — Greg weakened to a tropical depression early Tuesday as it continued to make its way toward the state. ADVERTISING KAILUA-KONA — Greg weakened to a tropical depression early Tuesday as it continued to make its way toward the
KAILUA-KONA — Greg weakened to a tropical depression early Tuesday as it continued to make its way toward the state.
As of Tuesday evening, Tropical Depression Greg was located 1,115 miles east of South Point, packing 35 mph winds and traveling northwest at 14 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Forecasters expect Greg to continue weakening as it encounters cooler waters and a drier, more stable atmosphere.
It could be downgraded to a remnant low by Wednesday evening, shortly after entering the Central Pacific, which is where Hawaii is located.
Behind Greg is Hurricane Irwin, which was packing 90 mph winds as it tracked west at 8 mph some 2,250 miles east of the Big Island. Gradual weakening is forecast during the next few days as the storm moves over cooler waters and encounters wind shear.
After that time, Irwin is expected to interact with Hurricane Hilary, and because it has the smaller circulation of the two, it is likely to lose intensity, forecasters said. Some global models show Irwin becoming absorbed into Hilary’s circulation by the weekend.
Farther east in the Eastern Pacific, behind both Greg and Irwin, is Hurricane Hilary, which saw little change in strength Tuesday, forecasters said. As of 5 p.m., the sto0rm was packing 105 mph winds and tracking west-northwest at 12 mph some 3,000 miles east of Hilo.
Little change in strength is forecast during the next 48 hours. Thereafter, gradually cooling water temperatures, drier air and interaction with Hurricane Irwin is likely to cause more weakening.
In the Central Pacific, Central Pacific Hurricane Center forecasters in Honolulu said no tropical cyclones are expected to form within the next couple of days.
