UPDATE: 5 p.m.

Tropical Depression Ten-E became less organized this afternoon and little change in strength is expected, according to the National Hurricane Center.

With winds at 35 mph, the center of Ten-E is located about 1,635 east-southeast of Hilo. Ten-E is moving toward the west near 5 mph.

A slow west-southwestward motion is forecast to begin later tonight or on Friday. The system is expected to drift northwestward over the weekend.

11 a.m.

Tropical Depression Ten-E maintained its strength and heading this morning but is still forecast to become a tropical storm in the next few days.

With its center located about 1,668 miles east-southeast of Hilo at 11 a.m., Ten-E was packing maximum sustained winds of 35 mph while heading east at 9 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Forecasters expect Ten-E to maintain course but slow in forward speed through the weekend while also weakening back to a tropical depression.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

The storm system moving toward the Central Pacific strengthened to a tropical depression Wednesday night and is forecast to continue strengthening.

Located about 1,721 miles east-southeast of Hilo as of 5 a.m. today, Tropical Depression Ten-E is packing maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and is moving west at 9 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Ten-E is expected to continue on its current trajectory for the next couple of days, possibly becoming a tropical storm later today.