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COURTESY NOAA
This enhanced-color satellite image shows tropical storms Erick (in center of image) and Flossie (lower right) in the East Pacific as of Monday. Erick is expected to enter the Central Pacific as a hurricane Tuesday.
COURTESY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
As of 5 a.m. today, Erick was about 1,310 miles east-southeast of Hilo.
UPDATE: Monday, 5 a.m.
Tropical Storm Erick continues to head toward the islands and is expected to become a hurricane soon.
With its center located 1,310 miles east-southeast of Hilo at 5 a.m. today, Erick is packing winds of 70 mph and heading west at 17 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Erick is expected to become a hurricane “any time soon” and then potentially a major hurricane on Tuesday, also turning to the west-northwest Tuesday while slowing in forward speed, the NHC said in an advisory. However, it’s expected to start weakening later in the week.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center.
Meanwhile, further east, Tropical Storm Flossie strengthened overnight as it also continues on a westward track.
Packing winds near 50 mph and heading west at 18 mph, Flossie’s center was located 2,722 miles east-southeast of Hilo at 5 a.m., according to the NHC.
Flossie is expected to strengthen to a hurricane Tuesday and turn to the west-northwest Wednesday.
Flossie’s tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles from the center.
11 p.m.
Tropical Storm Erick continues to strengthen and is expected to become a hurricane soon, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Erick, with maximum sustained winds at 70 mph, is located 1,475 east-southeast of Hilo. Rapid strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, with Erick likely becoming a hurricane on Monday and potentially a major hurricane on Tuesday. A weakening trend is forecast to begin by late Wednesday.
Erick is moving toward the west near 16 mph, and this motion is expected to continue through Monday. A turn to the west-northwest and a slower forward speed is expected to start on Tuesday and continue through Wednesday.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km) from the center.
Tropical Depression Seven-E has strengthened into Tropical Storm Flossie in the Pacific Ocean. Flossie, with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph, is 745 miles south of the southern tip of Baja California and moving toward the west near 20 mph. This general motion is expected to continue for the next few days with a slight decrease in forward speed.
Flossie is expected to become a hurricane on Tuesday or Tuesday night.
5 p.m.
Tropical Storm Erick is strengthening and expected to become a hurricane on Monday.
Erick was located 1,560 miles east-southeast of Hilo with maximum sustained winds near 65 mph at 5 p.m. today.
Rapid strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, with Erick likely becoming a hurricane on Monday and potentially a major hurricane on Tuesday, according to the National Hurricane Center. Some weakening is forecast on Wednesday.
Erick is expected to revert to a tropical storm by Thursday and pass south of Hawaii island on Friday with a maximum wind speed of about 45 mph. It could bring rain to the islands, starting on Friday.
Farther east, off Central America, Tropical Depression Seven-E also continues to gain strength as it moves across the Pacific Ocean. The Hurricane Center says Seven-E is expected to reach tropical storm strength on Monday. At last check Seven-E was packing maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and moving west-northwest at 21 mph. It was 740 miles south of the southern tip of Baja California at 5 p.m.
PREVIOUS UPDATES
11:05 a.m.
Tropical Storm Erick is still on track to become a hurricane by Monday night or early Tuesday morning, according to the National Weather Service.
As of 11 a.m. today, Erick was about 1,945 miles east of Hilo and moving west near 17 mph. Maximum sustained winds have increased to 45 mph.
The NWS says Erick will continue to strengthen, with tropical storm-force winds extending up to 35 miles from the center of the storm.
A second tropical depression, Seven-E, is about 610 miles southwest of Mexico as of 11 a.m. today. It is expected to become a tropical storm named Flossie later today.
6:40 a.m.
Tropical Storm Erick continues to strengthen as it makes its way across the Pacific Ocean toward Hawaii.
As of 5 a.m. today, the center of the storm was approximately 1,965 miles east of Hilo and moving west near 17 miles per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph.
The National Weather Service expects Erick to become a hurricane by late Monday and will continue to strengthen throughout Tuesday. Moderate to locally breezy trade winds will persist through at least Wednesday, with an increase in trades expected Thursday through Saturday.
Increasing rainfall chances along with windy conditions will remain a possibility toward the end of the week as Erick passes near the islands.
The NWS is also tracking a second tropical depression, Seven-E, which has formed in the Eastern Pacific and was about 600 miles southwest of Mexico overnight. It is expected to become a tropical storm named Flossie later today.
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