Storm Kilo expected to build up while Hurricane Danny weakens

By Wednesday August 26 at the end of the 5-day forecast, the CPHC expects the system to have strengthened to a Category 2 storm, approximately 120 Michigan (190 km) southwest of Kauai Island, Hawaii.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center says tropical depression Kilo is still on a track that could take it close to Kauai as a hurricane.

“There is considerable uncertainty as to where this system will make its turn toward the north, so people in Hawaii should continue to pay attention to the forecast and be ready for any changes over the next few days”, Ballard said.

It was expected to gain strength, and the forecasters said it could become a hurricane in 48 hours.

Hawaii could soon be hosting a hurricane, though there’s still a lot that can happen with Tropical Storm Kilo.

Kilo, whose storm-force winds extended out more than 100 miles (160 km) from its centre yesterday, ranks as the fourth named storm to form in the central Pacific basin this season, Chevalier said. Easterly shear is expected to slowly weaken later today and then remain rather weak through day 3.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for the island of Hawaii in anticipation of widespread rain expected this weekend (An indirect side effect of Kilo).

According to AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Lada, typically, tropical systems approach Hawaii from the east, impacting the Big Island first, then progress westward across the island chain.

A very moist air mass to the northeast of Kilo is spreading across the main Hawaiian Islands. And remember the ground is likely to already be quite saturated.

Sea surface temperatures south of Hawaii are extremely warm, as high as 86 degrees and running 4.5 degrees above average – fairly typical for this region during a strong El Nino year.

Here is what the CPHC says about tropical depression 3-C…

AccuWeather meteorologists believe that the system will track to the west-northwest through the weekend before making a northward turn next week.

A storm has to have maximum sustained winds of 39 miles per hour to be considered a tropical storm and get a name. These factors suggest that the storm will strengthen. Although it is best to prepare for hurricane season before it starts, this would be a good time to review your plans and gather supplies you may need to ride out several days of damaging wind and surf, and very heavy rain.