New storm expected to strengthen as Nora fizzles

Tropical Depression Nora continues to weaken and move on a path southeast of Hawaii, however a new tropical cyclone formed in the East Pacific Wednesday night.

Tropical Depression 19E is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm later today and reach hurricane strength by this weekend as it approaches the Central Pacific.

It’s too early to say if the storm, which will be named Olaf, will have an effect on Hawaii’s weather.

Remnants of Nora, however, will likely bring an increased chance of showers to the islands and slightly more humid conditions this weekend.

Nora weakened to a tropical depression and by 5 a.m. today, it was about 280 miles southeast of Hilo with sustained winds of 30 mph. Nora was traveling northwest at 7 mph. Wind shear should weaken the storm into a remnant low later today.

Nora should slowly continue to move in a northwest direction and what’s left of the storm will be blown to the west by easterly trade winds.

At 5 a.m., Tropical Depression 19E was 1,080 miles southwest of Baja California, moving west at 13 mph with sustained winds of 35 mph and occasionally higher gusts.

If it enters the Central Pacific as a hurricane or a tropical storm, it will be the 14th named storm in the Central Pacific this season. Tropical Depression 8C formed in the Central Pacific earlier this month, but did not strengthen into a named tropical storm.