Picking up strength in the watery footsteps of the former Hurricane Gil, Tropical Storm Henriette is threatening to develop into a full-fledged hurricane as it continues its westward progress toward Hawaii.
Henriette intensified from tropical depression to tropical storm Sunday morning and by early evening was sporting maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.
As of 5 p.m. Sunday, Henriette was 1,750 miles east of Hilo and moving west at about 8 mph.
Forecasters say the storm will turn toward the west-northwest today and develop into a hurricane by Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Gil was downgraded from tropical storm to tropical depression Sunday as its maximum sustained winds dropped to 35 from 45 mph.
As of 5 p.m. Sunday, Gil was about 1,245 miles east-southeast of Hilo and moving west-southwest at a speed of about 8 mph.
According to the National Weather Service, Gil is expected to weaken and should be downgraded further to a remnant low by today.
GIL is dissipating faster than computer models had predicted, in part because of wind shear, the weather service said.
Forecasters said there is still a chance that Gil could regain strength as it moves over warmer waters.
Regardless, the storm is expected to pass well south of the state and is "unlikely to affect the main Hawaiian Islands," the agency said.
August is considered the peak of the hurricane season in the Central Pacific.
In May the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said odds favor a below-average season this year, with one to three tropical cyclones in the region. Hawaii has already gone through one, with Tropical Storm Flossie drenching Maui last week.
The season runs through Nov. 30.
Breezy tradewinds are expected through the early half of the week as high pressure remains far northeast of the state, the weather service said.
Light to moderate windward showers are expected overnight as trades push moisture into the mountains. Some moisture could also reach the leeward areas of the smaller islands. Temperatures today are expected to range from a high of 89 degrees to a low of 74.
There are no watches, warnings or other advisories in effect.
