KAILUA-KONA — Tropical Storm Miriam continues to track westward but with little change in strength, forecasters said Tuesday.
As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, Miriam was circulating 60 mph winds with higher gusts and tracking west at 13 mph, according to forecasters at the Miami-based National Hurricane Center. It was located some 1,230 miles east-southeast of Hilo.
Some gradual strengthening is possible Wednesday night and Thursday, however, forecasters expect Tropical Storm Miriam to remain below hurricane strength. Weakening is expected to begin on Friday.
More than 2,600 miles east of Hilo in the Eastern Pacific is Tropical Storm Norman, which formed Tuesday afternoon. As of Tuesday evening, Norman was spinning 50 mph winds with higher gusts as it tracked west-northwest at 10 mph, forecasters said.
Additional strengthening is forecast and Norman could be upgraded to a hurricane Wednesday and then to a major hurricane on Thursday, forecasters said.
Meanwhile, west of Hawaii, former Category 5-Hurricane Lane continues to weaken. As of 5 p.m., Lane was a post-tropical remnant low featuring 30 mph winds some 795 miles west of Kailua-Kona. The low will continue weakening until it is absorbed by a new low forming to the north, forecasters said.