No tropical cyclone formation expected near Hawaiian Islands during next 48 hours

Forecasters with the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu do not expect any tropical cyclones to develop close to the Hawaiian Islands within the next 48 hours.

The forecasters, however, are monitoring a surface low located 1,180 miles southwest of Honolulu. The low is forecast to strengthen, however, forecasters say it may become extratropical as it moves northeast during the next couple of days. The term extratropical is used to indicate that a cyclone has lost its “tropical” characteristics, however, cyclones can become extratropical and still maintain hurricane- or tropical storm-force winds.

Elsewhere in the Central Pacific basin, an area spanning west of 140 degrees west longitude to the international date line, no tropical cyclones are forecast to form through Sunday morning.

In the Eastern Pacific, an area of low pressure centered about 350 miles south of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula continues to produce showers and thunderstorms. Additional development is forecast through the weekend as the storm moves northwest or north-northwest at 5 to 10 mph. It has a 40 percent chance of developing into a tropical cyclone — a category that includes tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes — within 48 hours, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Elsewhere in the Eastern Pacific, no tropical cyclones are expected to develop during the coming five days, according to forecasters.

The Central and Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons continue through Nov. 30.

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.