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High-surf advisory in effect, as Erick moves away and Flossie approaches

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CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER

Tropical Storms Erick and Flossie’s five-day forecast track as of 8 p.m. Friday.

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CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER

Tropical Storm Erick’s five-day forecast track as of 11 p.m. Friday.

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CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER

Tropical Storm Flossie’s five-day forecast track as of 11 p.m. Friday.

UPDATE: 11 p.m.

Tropical Storm Erick is barely surviving south-southwest of Hawaii, the National Weather Service said in its latest report.

Erick is located about 340 miles southwest of Honolulu, moving toward the west near 14 mph. A turn toward the west-northwest is expected on Saturday when it’s forecast to become a post-tropical remnant low.

“Moisture from the Erick passing the area will affect mainly windward areas under the trade winds,” weather officials said tonight.

Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center.

Tropical Storm Flossie, located about 840 miles east of Hilo and 1,035 miles east of Honolulu, is forecast to approach the islands over the weekend and into early next week.

Flossie is moving toward the west-northwest near 17 mph and could bring additional weather impacts to the area.

Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph with higher gusts, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles from the center.

A high-surf advisory for east- and south-facing shores of Oahu and Kauai remains in effect until 6 a.m. Saturday.

5 p.m.

Tropical Storm Erick continues to weaken south of the islands while Tropical Storm Flossie has moved into the Central Pacific this afternoon.

Erick, with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph, is 310 miles south-southwest of Honolulu, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. It is moving toward the west-northwest near 9 mph and this general motion is expected to continue during the next couple of days, with a loss of forward speed on Sunday.

Swells generated by Erick will affect portions of the state tonight. A high surf advisory is in effect for east- and south-facing shores of Kauai and Oahu. A flash flood watch for Hawaii island has expired.

Erick is expected to become a post-tropical remnant low on Saturday.

Flossie is located 930 miles east of Hilo and 1,125 miles east of Honolulu. It has maximum sustained winds near 60 mph and gradual weakening is anticipated over the weekend and into early next week.

Flossie is moving toward the west-northwest near 17 mph and this motion is expected to continue over the next 48 hours.

11:10 a.m.

The flood advisory for Hawaii island has been canceled. However, the island is still under a flash flood watch through 6 a.m. Saturday.

11 a.m.

Tropical Storm Erick further weakened this morning as it passed south of the islands. Tropical Storm Flossie, meanwhile, maintained strength as it neared the Central Pacific.

Centered about 305 miles southwest of Hilo and 325 miles south of Honolulu at 11 a.m., Erick had maximum sustained winds of 45 mpg while moving west at 13 mph, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said.

Weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Erick is expected to become a remnant low by Sunday, according to the CPHC. Erick is expected to move toward the west-northwest with a gradual loss in forward speed forecast during the next couple of days.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from Erick’s center.

Tropical Storm Flossie is centered about 1,030 miles east of Hilo and has maximum sustained winds of 65 mph while moving west-northwest at 17 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Gradual weakening is anticipated over the weekend and will likely continue through early next week, the NHC said.

Flossie’s current general motion, with a slight decrease in forward speed, is expected to continue through early next week. On the forecast track, Flossie is forecast to cross into the central Pacific basin during the next few hours.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles from Flossie’s center.

8:55 a.m.

Heavy rain near Naalehu on Hawaii island prompted a flood advisory for the Big Isle through 11:45 a.m.

Radar at 8:50 a.m. showed rain falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour in the area, according to the National Weather Service.

Locations in the advisory include, but are not limited to, Pahala, Wood Valley, Kawa Flats, Hawaiian Ocean View, Punaluu Beach and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

Although Tropical Storm Erick continued to weaken overnight on its path south of the islands, it brings with it a plethora of adverse weather conditions.

Tropical Storm Erick was centered about 250 miles southwest of Hilo and 310 miles south of Honolulu at 5 a.m. with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and heading west-northwest at 14 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

Erick is expected to become a tropical depression by Sunday, and a post-tropical remnant low Sunday night, the CPHC said.

A turn toward the northwest and a decrease in forward speed is expected over the weekend. On the forecast track, the center of Erick will pass by well to the south of the main Hawaiian Islands today and tonight, weather officials said.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from Erick’s center.

Despite the relative near-miss for the islands, the National Weather Service expects potential rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches for parts of the islands.

Forecasters have issued a host of warnings and advisories as the storm passes, including:

>> A flash flood watch for the Big Island through Saturday morning.

>> A high surf warning for the Big Island with waves up to 10 to 15 feet along east-facing shores through 6 p.m. today.

>> A high surf advisory with waves from 6 to 10 feet and locally higher sets along eastern shores of Kauai, Oahu and Maui, and the southern shores of Kauai and Oahu until 6 p.m. today.

>> A wind advisory for Hawaii island and Maui with east winds of 20 to 40 mph and gusts over 45 mph through 6 p.m. today. “Winds this strong are capable of downing trees and causing power outages,” forecasters said.

>> A small craft advisory for Hawaii waters with east to northeast winds of 20 to 30 knots and seas 8 to 12 feet nutil 6 p.m. today.

Tropical Storm Flossie was centered about 1,145 miles east of Hilo at 5 a.m. with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph and headed west-northwest at 17 mph, the National Hurricane Center said.

Gradual weakening is anticipated over the weekend and will likely continue through early next week, the NHC said.

Flossie is expected to continue on the same general heading with a slight decrease in forward speed through early next week. On the forecast track, Flossie is forecast to cross into the central Pacific basin later today.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles from Flossie’s center.

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