Hurricane Iona forms after rapidly strengthening in the central Pacific Ocean, no threat to Hawaii
MIAMI — Forecasters said Iona rapidly strengthened into a hurricane Monday morning in the central Pacific Ocean.
Hurricane Iona has maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) making it a Category 1 hurricane.
The center of the storm was 895 miles (1,440 kilometres) southeast of Honolulu.
No watches or warnings were in effect for the storm, which is far from land, but Iona is expected to strengthen more over the next couple of days before weakening around the middle of the week.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP's earlier story follows below.
Tropical Storm Iona formed in the central Pacific Ocean and is expected to continue trekking toward the west over warm, open waters well south of Hawaii.
Iona emerged Sunday from a tropical depression and was about 915 miles (1,473 kilometres) southeast of Honolulu, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said. The storm was forecast to become a hurricane by Monday night, but currently poses no threat to Hawaii.
No coastal watches or warnings were in effect.
The storm has maximum sustained winds of about 50 mph (80 km/h). It was moving in a generally westward direction at about 12 mph (19 km/h).
Iona is the first named storm of the hurricane season in the central Pacific. It was forecast to weaken starting Tuesday.
The Associated Press
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