Tropical Storm Orlene, far to the east, was expected to become a hurricane today and then head west.

But it will weaken back into a tropical storm long before it reaches Hawaii, forecasters said.

At 5 p.m. Sunday, Orlene — the 15th named storm of the season — had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, with higher gusts. Hurricane-force winds start at 74 mph.

But the storm had strengthened quickly, from 50 mph winds earlier Sunday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

At 5 p.m., it was 700 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California and 2,750 miles east of Hilo.

The center was traveling northwest at 9 mph.

However, the forecast track has it switching to a westerly course at about 2 p.m. Tuesday.

By 2 p.m. Friday, the center should be 1,560 miles east of Hilo.

Of the 15 named storms so far this season, Darby, Lester and Madeline have come the closest to Hawaii. All originated in the eastern Pacific.