A slow-moving Hurricane Jimena weakened to a Category 3 cyclone with 115 mph winds Tuesday evening, and was predicted to take a decisive turn to the north away from the islands.
Located 910 miles east of Hilo, Jimena was moving west-northwest at 9 mph. Hurricane force winds extended out 60 miles from the center and tropical storm winds reached out 185 miles.
Forecasters with the Central Pacific Hurricane Center predicted Jimena will continue on its present course before slowing down and swinging north-northwest as steering currents weaken on Wednesday and Thursday. Cooler sea surface temperatures and increased wind shear are expected to continue weakening the system, but the current forecast maintains Jimena as a hurricane into Saturday.
After passing the island with little effect but high surf on the east shores, Tropical Storm Ignacio continued its trek off to the north. Some 300 miles north-northeast of Kailua-Kona on Monday, the storm had diminished to 70 mph, and was expected to weaken slowly as it continues on. The cyclone was moving northwest at 13 mph and was expected to pass 200 to 300 miles north of Oahu and Kauai by Wednesday.