As a record season of tropical cyclone activity continues, the National Weather Service issued several advisories Friday in advance of approaching Tropical Storm Niala.
Niala is the 11th cyclone to form in the Central North Pacific so far this hurricane season, tying a record for most such storms set in 1992 and repeated in 1994.
At 5 p.m. Friday, Niala was about 375 miles southeast of Hilo and about 590 miles southeast of Honolulu, moving northwest at 7 mph and boasting maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.
Its tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles from the center.
A tropical storm warning was issued Friday for Hawaii offshore waters beyond 40 nautical miles out to 240 nautical miles, including a portion of the Papahanauokuakea Marine National Monument east of French Frigate Shoals.
Niala is expected to intensify through early Saturday before gradually weakening through Sunday.
Hawaii island is expected to bear the worst of Niala’s pass through Hawaii waters.
Forecasts indicate that tropical storm conditions are possible for Big Island waters Saturday night through Sunday night, prompting the weather service to issue a tropical storm watch for the area.
The watch means that sustained winds of 34 to 63 knots are possible within 48 hours.
A flash flood watch is also in effect for Hawaii island through Monday as an area of deep tropical moisture along the northern periphery of Niala nears.
Forecasters predict heavy rain will favor east- and southeast-facing slopes but will reach all parts of the island. The rain will diminish as the air mass moves to the west over the coming week.
A high-surf advisory remains in effect for the eastern shores of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai and Maui through 6 a.m. Monday as wind waves and an easterly swell are expected to produce surf of 5 to 8 feet.
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.
