Hurricane Iona strengthens to Category 3 storm off southern Hawaii
Iona was located about 790 miles south-southeast of Hawaii's capital city of Honolulu on Tuesday morning, with maximum sustained winds near 115 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center based in Miami. Forecasters said the storm didn't pose an immediate threat to the Hawaiian Islands and no coastal watches or warnings are in effect.
Iona was expected to move westward for the next couple of days, forecasters with the hurricane center said.
"Additional strengthening is forecast tonight, with steady weakening expected to begin by Wednesday," the center said.
Iona initially formed as a tropical depression late Saturday night, forecasters said. As the depression gained strength, it became the first named storm in the central Pacific Ocean this season.
It is one of two major weather systems in the central Pacific Ocean. Tropical Storm Keli is farther south with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. It was about 960 miles southeast of Honolulu and was moving west at about 12 mph.
The eastern Pacific has seen several named storms so far this season. Last month, Erick made landfall in Mexico as a Category 3 hurricane.
Earlier this month, Flossie also reached Category 3 strength as it skirted up the Mexican coast, but ultimately didn't make landfall. Barbara, this season's first hurricane in the eastern Pacific, reached Category 1 strength off Mexico's coast and also didn't make landfall.
The Atlantic Ocean has seen three named tropical storms so far this year. Forecasters at Colorado State University expect the Atlantic season to be above average with 16 named storms, eight of which are expected to be hurricanes.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Tropical Storm Gil expected to become a hurricane Aug. 1: See tracker
Tropical Storm Gil continues to strengthen in the Pacific Ocean and is expected to reach hurricane status soon, while Iona is expected to remain in tropical storm status before gradually weakening. In an advisory issued at 5 a.m. Hawaiian Standard Time on Friday, Aug. 1, the National Hurricane Center said Gil is located about 920 miles southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula and moving toward the west-northwest. Gil has maximum sustained winds near 65 mph with higher gusts and further strengthening is forecast, with Gil expected to become a hurricane on Friday, Aug. 1, NHC forecasters said. Gradual weakening is expected over the weekend. Iona, meanwhile, is located about 1,295 miles west-southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph with higher gusts. The storm is moving toward the west-northwest and this motion is expected to continue over the next couple of days with a gradual decrease in forward speed. "Little change in strength is forecast through Saturday," the hurricane center said of Iona, adding that "gradual weakening is forecast to begin on Sunday." Tropical Storm Gil path tracker This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time. Tropical Storm Gil spaghetti models This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time. NHC tracking three other systems brewing in Pacific The hurricane center said in a July 31 advisory it is also keeping tabs on three other systems in the Pacific Ocean. The first system is currently a trough of low pressure located about 650 miles south-southest of Hilo, Hawaii, associated with disorganized showers and thunderstorms. "While the system currently lacks a well-defined low-level center, some development is possible during the next day or so," the NHC said, however environmental conditions are expected to become less conducive for further development by this weekend. The hurricane center gives the system a 10% chance of formation through the next seven days. Additionally, an area of low pressure is expected to form well southwest of southwestern Mexico within the next day or two, according to the hurricane center. Environmental conditions appear conducive for some gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression is likely to form late this weekend or early next week as the system moves west-northwestward. The NHC gives the system an 80% chance of formation through the next seven days. Lastly, an area of low pressure is forecast to form offshore of the coast of Central America and southern Mexico by the middle part of next week. Thereafter, environmental conditions appear conducive for some development as the system moves west-northwestward. The system has a 20% chance of formation through the next seven days, according to the NHC. How do hurricanes form? Hurricanes are born in the tropics, above warm water. Clusters of thunderstorms can develop over the ocean when water temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression. A tropical depression becomes a named tropical storm once its sustained wind speeds reach 39 miles per hour. When its winds reach 74 mph, the storm officially becomes a hurricane. Prepare now for hurricanes Delaying potentially life-saving preparations could mean waiting until it's too late. "Get your disaster supplies while the shelves are still stocked, and get that insurance checkup early, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period," NOAA recommends. This story was updated to include new information. Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Wildfire Threat Hits Hawaii as Pacific Hurricane Season Takes Off
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Meteorologists warned of an increased wildfire threat across Hawaii on Friday as strong winds begin to blow across the state, much of which is battling drought. Why It Matters Hawaii entered a period of heightened wildfire risk on Friday as the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a red flag warning for all leeward areas and interior sections of the islands. The warning signaled the potential for extreme fire behavior driven by strong winds and low humidity and comes in the middle of the Pacific hurricane season, which has already seen an active start. Wildfires pose a serious threat to Hawaii's communities, native ecosystems, drinking water, infrastructure, and cultural resources, as evidenced by the destructive Maui fires in 2023, which were fueled by strong winds. What To Know The NWS in Honolulu announced a red flag warning for all Hawaiian Islands, effective through 6 p.m. local time on Friday, due to a combination of dry conditions, strong easterly trade winds, and low relative humidity. The warning covered leeward portions of all islands and interior sections on the Big Island, listing expected wind speeds of 15 to 30 miles per hour with gusts up to 40 mph on Oahu and Kauai, and gusts as high as 50 mph in Maui County and the Big Island. Relative humidity levels were expected to drop as low as 35 to 45 percent in the afternoon, meaning the landscape would be increasingly susceptible to ignition. Residents were urged to avoid outdoor burning, refrain from parking vehicles on dry grass, and delay spark-producing activities until calmer conditions returned. The NWS's red flag warning comes as the National Hurricane Center (NHC) monitors four disturbances, including two tropical storms, Iona and Gil. Iona passed well south of Hawaii earlier this week, and although some of the winds in Hawaii were driven by the tropical systems passing south of Hawaii, AccuWeather lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva told Newsweek an area of high pressure north of the islands is the primary driver behind the winds, similar to what happened in 2023. "These tropical systems that have gone by, like helped a little bit with some of the winds, but it's a similar two years ago when they had the wildfires in Maui," DaSilva said. "Everybody was really jumping on Hurricane while [Dora] played some role, [the winds] were caused by high pressure north of the island. Unusually strong trade winds really picked up around that high pressure, and that's what led to that event two years ago." DaSilva added that Hawaii is facing a similar setup now, although the trade winds won't be as strong. "We have a similar situation with these storms coming underneath Hawaii and strong high pressure to the north, but it's not nearly as strong as what happened two years ago," he said. "But winds are going to be strong enough through the weekend where there definitely can be some wildfire risk because it's so dry." Wildfires burn over the town of Lahaina as seen in the neighboring Kaanapali Alii resort, on August 08, 2023, in Maui. Wildfires burn over the town of Lahaina as seen in the neighboring Kaanapali Alii resort, on August 08, 2023, in Maui. Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty What People Are Saying NWS Honolulu in a red flag warning: "A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and dry fuels can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. A Red Flag Warning does not predict new fire starts." It added: "Heat from vehicle exhaust systems can ignite dry grass. Park cars on areas that are paved or where vegetation is trimmed and cleared. High winds contribute to wildfire hazard. Delay activities that could throw off sparks until the wind dies down." What Happens Next? Officials and emergency agencies urged Hawaii's residents and visitors to remain vigilant, continue monitoring official weather updates, and take preventive measures seriously. DaSilva said strong winds will persist in Hawaii through the weekend before they start to die down early next week.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tropical Storm Gil forms in the Pacific, expected to become hurricane: See tracker
Iona has weakened into a tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean while another storm – Tropical Storm Gil – has formed and continues to strengthen. In an advisory issued at 11 p.m. Hawaiian Standard Time on Wednesday, July 30, the National Hurricane Center said Gil has formed well to the south-southwest of the southern Baja California peninsula. The hurricane center said the storm was located about 785 miles away from the southern tip of the peninsula with maximum sustained winds near 45 mph with higher gusts, with a turn to the north-northwest expected over the next couple of days. "Some strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days, and Gil is forecast to become a hurricane on Friday," hurricane center forecasters said July 30. Iona, meanwhile, will continue on its westward path into Friday, followed by a gradual turn toward the north-northwest over the weekend, according to the NHC. Iona has maxiumum sustained winds near 50 mph with higher gusts, with additional weakning expected through Thursday. Tropical Storm Gil path tracker This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time. Tropical Storm Gil spaghetti models This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time. NHC tracking two other systems in the Pacific The hurricane center said in a July 30 advisory it is also keeping tabs on two other systems in the Pacific Ocean. The first system is a broad area of low pressure located about 800 miles southest of Hilo, Hawaii that is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. "Although the system lacks a well-defined low-level center at this time, some additional development is possible, and a short-lived tropical depression could still form during the next day or so," the hurricane center said in the advisory, noting that after that time, environmental conditions are expected to become less conducive for further development. The hurricane center gives the system a 40% chance of formation through the next 48 hours. A second area of low pressure is expected to form well south of southwestern Mexico in the next couple of days, hurricane center forecasters said. "Environmental conditions appear conducive for some gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression could form over the weekend or early next week" as the system moves west-northwestward, the hurricane center said, giving the system a 70% chance of formation through the next seven days. How do hurricanes form? Hurricanes are born in the tropics, above warm water. Clusters of thunderstorms can develop over the ocean when water temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression. A tropical depression becomes a named tropical storm once its sustained wind speeds reach 39 miles per hour. When its winds reach 74 mph, the storm officially becomes a hurricane. Prepare now for hurricanes Delaying potentially life-saving preparations could mean waiting until it's too late. "Get your disaster supplies while the shelves are still stocked, and get that insurance checkup early, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period," NOAA recommends. Develop an evacuation plan: If you are at risk from hurricanes, you need an evacuation plan. Now is the time to begin planning where you would go and how you would get there. Assemble disaster supplies: Whether you're evacuating or sheltering-in-place, you're going to need supplies not just to get through the storm but for the potentially lengthy aftermath, NOAA said. Get an insurance checkup and document your possessions: Contact your insurance company or agent now and ask for an insurance check-up to make sure you have enough insurance to repair or even replace your home and/or belongings. Remember, home and renters insurance doesn't cover flooding, so you'll need a separate policy for it. Flood insurance is available through your company, agent, or the National Flood Insurance Program. Act now, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period. Create a family communication plan: NOAA said to take the time now to write down your hurricane plan, and share it with your family. Determine family meeting places, and make sure to include an out-of-town location in case of evacuation. Strengthen your home: Now is the time to improve your home's ability to withstand hurricane impacts. Trim trees; install storm shutters, accordion shutters, and/or impact glass; seal outside wall openings. Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tropical Storm tracker: Gil forms in Pacific, could become hurricane
