Niala continues to weaken Monday as it continues its west-southwest track away from the Big Island.
Located 330 miles south-southwest of Kailua-Kona, the former tropical storm was circulating 30 mph winds and moving west at 10 mph as of 11 a.m. Monday, forecasters with the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu reported. Vertical wind shear is forecast to continue weakening Niala in the coming days. Forecasters expect to downgrade the depression to a post-tropical remnant low later Monday.
Forecasters continue to note, however, that Niala could restrengthen in about a week when it reaches an area more favorable for development. By that time the storm would be far west-southwest of the state.
“Global models indicate the remnant of Niala and its associated moisture field will merge into a monsoon trough that extends into the Central Pacific from the west,” forecaster said.
Elsewhere in the Central Pacific, which is where Hawaii is located, no tropical cyclones are expected to develop through Wednesday morning.
In the Eastern Pacific, Marty reached hurricane strength as of 11 a.m. Hawaii time. A Hurricane warning was posted for areas of southwestern Meixco from Tecpan de Galeana to Lazaro Cardenas. A tropical storm warning is in effect for areas between Acapulco to east of Tecpan de Galeana and a tropical storm watch is in effect for areas west of Lazaro Cardenas to Punta San Telmo.
Located 145 miles west of Acapulco, Mexico, the hurricane was circulating 80 mph winds and tracking northeast at 6 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft was en route to study the storm as of Monday morning.
On its current forecast track, the center of Marty is expected to be near but just offshore of the southwestern coast of Mexico Tuesday through Wednesday. “However, only a small deviation to the right of the forecast track would bring the center onshore,” forecaster said. Marty is expected is expected to drench areas of the Mexican state of Guerrero through Thursday. Rainfall totals are expected to be between 6 and 12 inches, however, isolated areas in the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains could see up to 20 inches.
Weakening is expected to commence on Tuesday as Marty encounters cooler sea surface temperatures and moderate shear. Forecasters expect it to be downgraded to a depression later this week.
Forecasters are also watching an area of low pressure expected to develop several hundreds miles south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. A tropical depression is expected to form later this week.
The Central and Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons continue through Nov. 30. For the latest storm information, visit www.westhawaiitoday.com/hurricane-season-2015.
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