Guillermo weakened to a tropical storm overnight as it continued its march toward the Hawaiian Islands. ADVERTISING Guillermo weakened to a tropical storm overnight as it continued its march toward the Hawaiian Islands. Guillermo, as of 11 a.m. Hawaii time,
Guillermo weakened to a tropical storm overnight as it continued its march toward the Hawaiian Islands.
Guillermo, as of 11 a.m. Hawaii time, was circulating 65 mph winds and moving toward the northwest at 12 mph, according to Central Pacific Hurricane Center forecasters. The storm was about 620 miles east-southeast of Kailua-Kona.
Steady weakening is forecast during the next couple of days as the storm nears the island, however, it is expected to remain a tropical storm. The current forecast track has the center of Guillermo passing about 150 miles northeast of the Big Island on Wednesday.
Forecasters said that all interests in the Hawaiian Islands should monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Guillermo. Watches may be issued for portions of the state Monday. NOAA said Guillermo is already producing rough surf along east facing shores of the Hawaiian Islands.
Forecasters called for a busier Central North Pacific hurricane season this year thanks in part to El Nino. Projected climate conditions point to an above-normal hurricane season for the Central North Pacific basin, an area located north of the equator spanning from 140 degrees west longitude to the International Date Line.
At the onset of the season, Central Pacific Hurricane Center officials predicted five to eight tropical cyclones — a category that includes tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes — would pass through the basin this year.
The center also forecast a 70 percent chance of an above-normal season, a 25 percent chance of normal season and a 5 percent chance of a below-normal season, Evans said.
The Central Pacific hurricane season runs June 1 to Nov. 30. On average, the Central Pacific annually sees four to five tropical cyclones in its waters.
Get more hurricane-related content, including preparation tips, evacuation info and daily tropical weather updates, on our hurricane season page, sponsored by Clark Realty, at www.westhawaiitoday.com/hurricane-season-2015.
