Hurricane Linda remained a Category 1 hurricane Wednesday evening as it continued its march toward the Hawaiian Islands.
Hurricane Linda remained a Category 1 hurricane Wednesday evening as it continued its march toward the Hawaiian Islands.
The tropical cyclone is forecast to pass north of the Hawaiian Islands as a post-tropical gale late Sunday into Monday.
As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Linda was swirling 90 mph winds as it trekked west-northwest at 16 mph some 1,330 miles east of the Big Island, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The Florida-based forecasters will monitor the tropical cyclone until it crosses into the Central Pacific Thursday at which point the Honolulu-based Central Pacific Hurricane Center will assume responsibility.
Weakening is forecast through Friday as the storm encounters cooler ocean waters and increased wind shear, and eventually drier air. The hurricane is expected to be downgraded to a tropical storm Thursday and to a post-tropical gale Saturday.
Based on the current forecast, Linda is expected to be a post-tropical gale packing 45 mph winds located about 340 miles north-northeast of Hilo mid-day Sunday.
As the storm passes, trade winds are expected to be light and variable with the bulk of the moisture associated with Linda expected to pass north of the state. The light winds, however, will allow afternoon sea breezes to fuel showers over leeward areas.
Swells from Linda were expected to begin reaching east-facing shores of Big Island later Wednesday. Moderate surf is forecast throughout the weekend.
