Tropical Storm Akoni moving westward with poorly defined center

UPDATE: 5:03 p.m.

Tropical Storm Akoni is still a disorganized storm with a poorly defined center far southeast of Hawaii, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said.

Akoni is about 835 miles southeast of Hilo and moving westward at about 9 mph, but forecast maps show it passing south of the islands. The storm is expected to maintain its westward heading with some increase in speed over the next several days.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with higher gusts and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles, the center said.

In the Eastern Pacific, Hurricane Juliette is moving northwest at 13 mph about 765 miles off the southern tip of Baja California, but the storm’s strength is expected to diminish over the next few days, the National Hurricane Center said.

The Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph is forecast to turn west on Saturday and continue on that path through the weekend.

Juliette is expected to become a tropical storm by Friday, and a remnant low on Saturday.

1 p.m.

Tropical Storm Akoni has formed hundreds of miles southwest of Hilo.

Previously known as Tropical Depression Twelve-E, Akoni gained in strength today, clocking in with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph while continuing to head west at 7 mph and centered about 855 miles southeast of Hilo as of 1 p.m., the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said.

Little change in strength or direction is forecast during the next 48 hours, the CPHC said. However, an increase in forward speed and a turn toward the west-northwest is expected over the weekend.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from Akoni’s center.

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11:30 a.m.

Hurricane Juliette in the East Pacific weakened further this morning as Tropical Depression Twelve-E southeast of Hawaii maintained strength while remaining poorly organized.

Centered about 2,208 miles east of Hilo at 11 a.m., Juliette packed maximum sustained winds of 85 mph while heading northwest at 12 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Additional weakening is forecast during the next few days, and Juliette is forecast to become a tropical storm on Friday, the NHC said. A motion toward the west-northwest should begin tonight or early Friday. A turn toward the west is forecast on Saturday and a general westward motion should continue through the weekend.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from Juliette’s center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.

Still packing maximum sustained winds of 30 mph, Tropical Depression Twelve-E was centered about 870 miles southeast of Hilo while heading west at 7 mph, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and the depression may become a tropical storm on Friday, th CPHC said. An increase in forward speed and a turn toward the west-northwest is expected over the weekend.

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Hurricane Juliette in the East Pacific continues to weaken as Tropical Depression Twelve-E southeast of Hawaii is forecast to strengthen. Neither storm is projected to threaten the islands.

Centered about 2,276 miles east of Hilo at 5 a.m., Hurricane Juliette packed maximum sustained winds of 90 mph while heading northwest near 9 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Gradual weakening is forecast during the next few days, and Juliette is expected to weaken to a tropical storm on Friday, the NHC said. However, a slightly faster west-northwestward to westward motion is expected to begin on Friday, and this general motion should continue through the weekend.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from Juliette’s center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles.

Meanwhile, Tropical Depression Twelve-E was centered about 965 miles east-southeast of Hilo at 5 a.m. while packing maximum sustained winds near 30 mph and heading west at 9 mph, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said.

Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and the depression may become a tropical storm on Friday, the CPHC said. An increase in forward speed is expected over the weekend.