As the threat from former-tropical storm Nora waned Wednesday afternoon, Tropical Depression 19-E formed far southeast of the Big Island.
Located 2,500 miles southeast of the Big Island, 19-E had sustained winds of 35 mph and was tracking west at 18 mph as of 5 p.m. Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center. Low wind shear, warm water and a fairly moist environment are expected to foster development, and the depression is expected to become Tropical Storm Olaf, the 15th named storm of the 2015 Eastern Pacific hurricane season, sometime Thursday morning.
Current forecast models indicate Olaf will reach hurricane strength Saturday. By Monday evening, the weather system is expected to be a Category 2 storm packing 100 mph winds more than 1,300 miles southeast of the Big Island.
Closer to the islands, Nora, which was downgraded to a depression late Tuesday, featured sustained winds of 30 mph, with higher gusts, as it headed northwest at 5 mph about 425 miles southeast of Kailua-Kona, Central Pacific Hurricane Center meteorologists said Wednesday evening. The storm, which is forecast to pass south of the Big Island Friday, is expected to continue weakening until it is declared dissipated Sunday.
Remnant moisture from the storm could reach the Big Island as early as Thursday night, forecasters said. The majority of the showers will likely be focused over windward areas.
A high surf advisory was canceled Wednesday afternoon for southeast-facing shores, however, forecasters said a moderate southeast swell generated by Nora will impact the east and southeastern coasts of the Big Island through Thursday.
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.