A tropical cyclone may reach the isles in a few days

Tropical Depression 8E formed in the eastern Pacific on Monday and could be in Hawaii waters by the weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center. Satellite passes indicate an increasingly less organized circulation center with maximum sustained winds of about 35 mph.

At 8 p.m. Monday the storm was 1,906 miles east-southeast of Hilo and moving west-northwest at 14 mph, the center said.

The cyclone could slowly strengthen through Tuesday and become a tropical storm as early as Wednesday, the center said.

However, there will likely be occasional intrusions of drier and more stable air, which lies just to the north of the forecast track. The dry air, combined with lower sea surface temperatures and greater atmospheric stability, should cause the system to weaken by midweek.

If 8E becomes a tropical storm in the eastern Pacific, it will be named Guillermo, the National Weather Service said.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center in May predicted a busier-than-average hurricane season, which lasts through Nov. 30. The storm potential has increased with the presence of El Nino, associated with warmer-than-usual sea surface temperatures in the eastern tropical Pacific.

The outlook calls for a 70 percent chance of an above-normal season, with five to eight tropical cyclones in the central Pacific.

Meanwhile, easterly tradewinds will remain in the gentle to locally moderate range through Tuesday, weak enough to allow afternoon sea breezes to set up along most leeward areas, the weather service said.

In Honolulu, Monday’s high temperature of 91 degrees tied the record for the date. The record was set in 1995. High temperatures at Honolulu Airport are expected to remain at 89 or 90 degrees through the week.

On Sunday a high of 94 degrees in Kahului broke the record for the date. The old record of 92 was set in 1969.

On Saturday a high of 89 degrees in Hilo tied the record set in 2003.

And on Friday a high of 87 degrees in Lihue tied the record set in 1982.