High-surf warning in effect as Tropical Storm Flossie approaches

UPDATE: 11 p.m.

Tropical Storm Flossie is forecast to approach the islands from the east by late Sunday night, with potential to spread unsettled weather and raised humidity levels across the state through the first half of next week.

Flossie, located about 550 miles east of Hilo and 615 miles east of Hana, is moving toward the west near 13 mph, with maximum sustained winds near 45 mph.

Flossie is expected to weaken to a tropical depression on Monday.

Central Pacific Hurricane Center forecasters said they expect Flossie to be “very close to, or over, portions of the Hawaiian islands Monday and Tuesday — albeit as a weak tropical cyclone. … The updated official forecast brings the center of Flossie over waters just east of the Hawaiian islands as a tropical depression.”

“A tropical storm watch may be required for portions of the Hawaiian islands on Sunday,” they said.

A high surf warning has been issued until 6 a.m. Monday for east-facing shores of Maui and the Big Island, with waves rising to 10-to-15 feet Sunday.A high surf advisory has been issued for east-facing shores until 6 a.m. Monday for Molokai, Oahu ans Kauai, with waves rising to 8-to-12 feet Sunday.

As Flossie threatens to the islands, Tropical Depression Erick continues to weaken as it moves toward the west-northwest far southwest of the islands.

Erick, located about 585 miles west-southwest of Honolulu, was forecast to dissipate by Monday. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph.

“Light to moderate trade winds will continue across the islands under a high pressure ridge far to the north of the state,” weather officials said Saturday night. “Shower activity will favor typical windward and mountain areas trending towards the overnight and early morning hours.”

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Gil has weakened to a tropical depression, as it moves west near 12 mph.

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 35 mph, and additional weakening is forecast for the next couple of days.

Gil, located about 2,245 miles east-southeast of Honolulu, is expected to dissipate by Monday night.

A high-surf warning remains in effect until 6 a.m. Monday, as swells from Flossie will cause surf to increase along east-facing shores tonight through Sunday night.

5 p.m. 

Tropical Storm Flossie gradually weakened this afternoon as it continued its approach to the islands.

Flossie, with maximum sustained winds near 45 mph, is 620 miles east of Hilo and 815 miles east of Honolulu. Flossie is moving toward the west near 13 mph and a continued motion toward the west to west-northwest is expected during the next couple of days, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

A high-surf warning is in effect as swells from Flossie will cause surf to increase along east-facing shores tonight through Sunday night. Surf will rise to 8 to 12 feet tonight and 10 to 15 feet Sunday.

Erick weakened to a tropical depression this afternoon and is expected to become a post-tropical cyclone on Sunday and dissipate on Monday.

Erick is located 530 miles west-southwest of Honolulu with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Gil is moving westward with little change in strength. Gil, located 1,050 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, is moving toward the west near 12 mph. It is expected to continue moving westward at the same forward speed the next couple of days.

11 a.m.

As Tropical Storm Erick tracks away from the main Hawaiian islands, Flossie continues moving west-northwestward toward Hawaii and might bring with it “unsettled weather” to the islands from the east late Sunday.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Gil has formed over the Eastern North Pacific about 980 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja, Calif.

The National Weather Service said trade winds will prevail across the island today through early Sunday. Brief, moderate showers might pop up along the Kona coast this afternoon due to the sea breeze.

Forecasters said trade wind speeds will gradually weaken today through Sunday as Erick moves further away.

Flossie was located about 695 miles east of Hilo and about 885 miles east of Honolulu with maximum sustained winds near 50 mph with higher gusts. The latest Central Pacific Hurricane Center advisory showed Flossie passing within 300 miles northeast of the Big Island Monday.

Flossie was moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph, and expected to continue in the same path over the next couple of days.

Flossie is expected to weaken over the next 48 hours and become a tropical depression Sunday.

“At a minimum, we should begin to see an increase in rain associated with Flossie beginning on Sunday night for windward Maui and Big Island spreading westward on Monday,” the forecast said. “Wind impacts to Hawaii are less certain and will depend on the track.”

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center.

Erick was located about 480 miles southwest of Honolulu with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph with higher gusts as of 11 a.m. today.

Erick was moving westward near 13 mph, and was forecasted to turn west-northwestward later today and continue in the same direction through Sunday and early Monday.

Erick is expected to weaken to a tropical depression later today or tonight, then become a post-tropical cyclone Sunday.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center.

Gil was packing maximum sustained winds of near 40 mph with higher gusts. Forecasters are predicting little change in strength over the next day or so. Gil is expected to gradually weaken and dissipate by Tuesday.

Gil’s tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles from the center.

8 a.m.

Newly formed Tropical Depression Eight-E has been forecasted to gradually weaken over the next day or two as it moves over the Eastern Pacific.

Tropical Depression Eight-E was located about 930 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja, Calif., packing maximum sustained winds of near 35 mph with higher gusts, according to an 8 a.m. update.

The depression was moving toward the west-northwest near 10 mph.

“A general westward motion at a similar forward speed is expected for the next day or two,” forecasters said.

The depression is expected to dissipate by early Monday.

6 a.m.

Tropical Storm Erick continues to weaken on its path southwest of the Hawaiian Islands, while Tropical Storm Flossie “flounders forward” west-northwest of Hawaii.

Although Flossie is forecasted to lose strength as it approaches Hawaii, it is expected to generate dangerous high-surf conditions mostly along the east and southeast shores of Hawaii over the next couple of days.

Tropical Storm Erick was centered about 430 miles southwest of Honolulu with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph.

Erick is expected to weaken over the next 48 hours, and turn into a post-tropical remnant low later today or tonight.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 50 miles from the center.

“A turn toward the west-northwest is expected shortly, with this general motion then expected to continue for the next couple days at a slightly slower forward speed,” forecasters said.

Flossie was packing maximum sustained winds of 60 mph, and centered about 760 miles east of Hilo and about 955 miles east of Honolulu.

Flossie was moving toward the west-northwest near 14 mph and expected to continue in the general motion over the next couple of days.

Just like Erick, Flossie is forecasted to gradually weaken over the next couple of days.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles from the center.

Meanwhile, a new tropical depression has formed over the Eastern Pacific.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Tropical Depression Eight-E was packing maximum sustained winds near 35 mph with higher gusts, and was located about 930 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California as of 8 a.m.

Eight-E was moving toward the west-northwest near 10 mph.

“A general westward motion at a similar forward speed is expected for the next day or two,” according to this morning’s forecast.

Forecasters predict Eight-E to weaken during the next day or two and dissipate by early Monday.