Tropical Storm Fernanda, slowly churning toward Hawaii, is expected to bring more rain to parts of the state but will weaken before it approaches the islands, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center on Oahu.
Fernanda, with sustained winds of 65 mph, was about 905 miles east-southeast of South Point on Hawaii island as of 5 p.m. Thursday, the center said. The storm was traveling at 12 mph on a track that will likely take it south of the islands.
The storm should bring increased showers and cloud cover along with higher humidity to Hawaii and Maui counties on Sunday and Monday, forecasters said.
The center said the western half of the state, including Oahu, will remain under typical tradewinds, along with windward and mauka showers at night and in the early morning on Sunday and Monday.
Forecasters said Fernanda was expected to weaken early today and move in a more westerly direction, with storm remnants passing 115 miles south of Hawaii island.
A small-craft advisory has been extended until Saturday morning for typically windy coastal zones around Hawaii and Maui counties due to strong trades. A moderate south well is expected to arrive Monday night and Tuesday.
The hurricane center said a small-craft advisory is in effect until 6 a.m. Saturday for Maalaea Bay, Pailolo Channel, Alenuihaha Channel and Hawaii island leeward and southeast waters.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Greg, farther east in the Pacific, saw its maximum sustained winds decrease to 80 mph Thursday night.
The Category 1 hurricane is expected to continue to weaken over the next couple of days as it heads over cooler waters. Greg was centered Thursday about 380 miles southwest of the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California. It was moving west-northwest at 14 mph.
