Hurricane Linda is forecast to approach the Big Island late this weekend as a tropical storm.
As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, Linda remained a well-organized Category 1 hurricane swirling 90 mph winds as it trekked west at 10 mph some 1,750 miles east of the Big Island, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, which will monitor the tropical cyclone until it crosses into the Central Pacific Thursday at which point Honolulu-based forecasters with the Central Pacific Hurricane Center will assume responsibility.
Little change in strength is forecast today, however, a slow weakening trend is expected to begin Wednesday after the hurricane makes a turn toward the west-northwest and encounters cooler waters and drier air.
Based on the current forecast, Linda is expected to be located to the north or northeast of the Hawaiian Islands late this weekend and early next week, forecasters said. The storm could bring heavy showers as it passes.
Swells from the storm could reach east-facing shores of Big Island later this week.