Tropical Storm Ignacio formed Tuesday far east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands.
Located 1,525 miles east-southeast of the Big Island, Ignacio featured 45 mph winds and was tracking toward the west at 6 mph, National Hurricane Center forecasters said at 5 p.m. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center.
A decrease in shear, combined with 82- to 84-degree waters and a more favorable environment, is expected to further strengthen Ignacio in the coming days, forecasters said. Forecasters expect Ignacio to reach hurricane strength Thursday.
The current forecast has the storm peaking as a Category 1 hurricane packing 100 mph winds Friday before westerly shear begins to weaken the weather system. By Sunday, the storm is expected to be about 400 miles east of the Big Island, according to current forecast models.
Elsewhere in the Eastern Pacific, a low pressure area featuring showers and thunderstorms about 570 miles south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, is showing signs of organization. Further development is expected and a tropical depression is expected to form by the end of the week.
Meanwhile in the Central Pacific, Tropical Depression Kilo is forecast to restrengthen to a tropical storm by Thursday asit encounters warm waters northeast of Johnston Island, Central Pacific Hurricane Center forecasters said. Kilo was located almost 730 miles west of Kailua-Kona.
In addition to Kilo, forecasters continue to keep tabs on Tropical Storm Loke located more than 1,400 miles west-northwest of Kailua-Kona. Loke was packing 60 mph and traveling toward the north-northeast at 17 mph.
Elsewhere in the Central Pacific basin, no tropical cyclones are expected through Thursday afternoon, forecasters said.
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