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NOAA/NASA
This photo of Hurricane Julio was taken Sunday by the GOES-15 geostationary satellite.
NOAA /NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
This composite satellite image taken Sunday shows Hurricane Julio north of the islands and the remnants of Tropical Storm Iselle west of Kauai.
Hurricane Julio’s path is taking a right turn to the north, further away from Hawaii Sunday afternoon, sparing the islands from another bout of strong winds and heavy rain.
In fact, it’s most notable impact to the islands may be a lack of winds. The storm is cutting off the cooling trade wind flow, which will likely lead to a muggy Sunday and Monday.
The weather service said Julio is no longer a threat to Hawaii and the Air Force Hurricane Hunter planes that were tracking the storm are heading back to their Mississippi base.
However, the storm is bringing high surf to east shores of the islands, where a high surf advisory is in effect.
At 5 a.m. Monday, Julio had with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph with higher gusts, just barely a category 1 hurricane. It was moving northwest at 9 mph and was about 405 miles north-northeast of Honolulu and 420 miles northeast of Lihue.
Hurricane force winds extended outward up to 25 miles, from the center, and tropical storm force winds extended up to 155 miles.
A high surf warning is also in effect for east shores of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and the Big Island as Julio generates surf of 5 to 8 feet.
Other shores are also getting surf generated by Julio and former Tropical Storm Iselle. Oahu’s North Shore can expect 4- to 7-foot surf through Tuesday; west shores are looking at 3- to 5-foot surf through Tuesday and south shores are seeing 3- to 5-foot surf through Tuesday.
Julio’s impact to the islands, except for the surf, should be minimal, forecasters said.
Expect muggy conditions, partly cloudy skies in windward and mauka areas and afternoon showers in leeward areas and mountain slopes, forecasters said. Variable, light winds of up to 15 mph are forecast.
"The light winds, combined with higher relative humidity, will make it feel uncomfortable," said Maureen Ballard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
The light winds, daytime heating and humidity may also cause rain clouds to form in the afternoon.
Julio is blocking the usual northeast trade wind flow, adding to the muggy conditions.
Trade winds should return Tuesday.
