A tropical depression expected to become Tropical Storm Niala is the 11th cyclone this hurricane season in the Central North Pacific, tying the record for the most such storms.
The record was set in 1992 and repeated in 1994.
“The system could bring some heavy rains to the Big Island, building over the weekend,” said Central Pacific Hurricane Center meteorologist Vladimir Ryshko. “There’s a 50 percent chance of rain for the Big Island and a slight chance of thunderstorms by Saturday night.”
However, the storm “won’t come close enough to bring strong winds to the state,” Ryshko said.
Tropical Depression Six-C was expected to strengthen to a tropical storm by 2 a.m. today.
At 5 p.m. Thursday, Six-C was moving northwest at 8 mph with winds of 35 mph and higher gusts. It was expected to continue to the northwest through 5 a.m. Saturday, followed by a turn to the west.
The system was about 525 miles southeast of Hilo at 5 p.m. Thursday.
If and when it takes that sharp turn west, the center of the storm should pass south of the Big Island, Ryshko said.
The system is expected to strengthen before decreasing in wind speed Saturday sometime between 2 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Maui might also feel the effects of the system, but as of Thursday evening the Central Pacific Hurricane Center was not forecasting it would touch the other main Hawaiian Islands.
Moderate to locally breezy tradewinds will prevail through the week and could become locally windy on Hawaii island over the weekend, forecasters said. Heavy showers and thunderstorms will be possible on the island late Saturday through Monday.
Meanwhile a small-craft advisory remains in effect until 6 a.m. Monday for waters around Maui and Hawaii counties as a high-pressure system north of the state generates strong wind.
The advisory covers Maalaea Bay, the Pailolo (Molokai-Maui) and Alenuihaha (Maui-Hawaii island) channels, and waters southeast and southwest of Hawaii island, the National Weather Service said.
East winds of 29 mph and seas up to 11 feet are forecast, and the weather service said inexperienced mariners, especially those in small craft, should not risk it.
