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Hurricane Gilma strengthens as it nears Central Pacific

NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER
                                The 5-day forecast track for Hurricane Gilma.
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NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER

The 5-day forecast track for Hurricane Gilma.

NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER
                                The 5-day forecast track for Tropical Storm Hector.
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NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER

The 5-day forecast track for Tropical Storm Hector.

CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER
                                The 5-day forecast track for Tropical Storm Hone.
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CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER

The 5-day forecast track for Tropical Storm Hone.

NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER
                                The 5-day forecast track for Hurricane Gilma.
NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER
                                The 5-day forecast track for Tropical Storm Hector.
CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER
                                The 5-day forecast track for Tropical Storm Hone.

UPDATE: 5 p.m.

Gilma remains a formidable hurricane as it nears the Central Pacific Basin, according to forecasters.

As of 5 p.m., Gilma was about 1,100 miles east of Hilo, with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph, moving west at 12 mph.

The National Hurricane Center of Miami says gradual weakening is forecast to begin soon as Gilma continues a westward to west-northwestward motion over the next few days.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles.

Tropical Storm Hector was holding steady about 1,170 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph with higher gusts. Hector was moving at 12 mph and expected to move west-northwestward to westward motion at a slightly faster forward speed over the next few days.

Hector is forecast to grow in strength over the next day or so followed by gradual weakening. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center.

Hone, meanwhile, as of 5 p.m. was about 275 miles southwest of Kauai, moving away from Hawaii toward open waters at 13 mph. Hone is expected to become a post-tropical low on Thursday and then dissipate on Friday.

Drier air is expected to filter in, according to forecasters, but that won’t last for long.

A moisture plume from Gilma is expected to move in as early as Tuesday night, bringing the potential for more rain, and an uptick in windward and mauka showers through the end of the week.

Based on the latest track, Gilma will pass through or near the island chain sometime Friday into Friday night as a weakening tropical depression.

11:30 a.m.

In the wake of Tropical Storm Hone, forecasters say drier air will filter in, with higher pressure to the north bringing a breezy tradewind pattern for most of the week.

As of 11 a.m., Hone was 280 miles west-southwest of Honolulu, continuing along a westward track away from the main Hawaiian islands at 13 mph.

Hone is expected to pass well north of Johnston Island Tuesday night.

Hurricane Gilma, meanwhile, is growing stronger, with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

As of 11 a.m., Gilma was 1,160 miles east of Hilo, moving west at 8 mph, with a westward to west-northwestward motion expected to continue the next few days.

Gradual weakening is forecast to begin tonight, but Gilma is expected to be a hurricane when it reaches the Central Pacific basin on Tuesday.

Hurricane-force winds extend up to 15 miles from Gilma’s center, and tropical storm-force winds extend up to 80 miles.

NWS forecasters expect Gilma to continue weakening, possibly into a tropical depression by the time it passes through or near the island chain on Friday.

Gilma is expected to bring the potential for more rain later this week.

A “broad moisture plume” is expected to move into the area as early as Tuesday night, forecasters said, bringing a slight uptick in windward and mauka showers through the end of the week.

Further behind Gilma in the Eastern Pacific, about 1,935 miles east of Hilo at 11 a.m., Tropical Storm Hector is maintaining strength with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and was moving west-northwest near 10 mph, the NWS said.

Weather officials say Hector could strengthen slightly over the next day or so while it accelerates in forward speed. Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from Hector’s center.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

Hurricane Gilma has slightly intensified, with maximum sustained winds now reaching 105 mph, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center. As of 5 a.m. today, Gilma was centered about 1,220 miles east of Hilo, moving west at 8 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

The hurricane is expected to maintain a westward to west-northwestward motion over the next several days, with a slight increase in forward speed anticipated by late Tuesday, weather officials said. While some weakening is forecast during the coming days, Gilma is still projected to remain a hurricane as it crosses into the Central Pacific basin on Tuesday.

Hurricane-force winds extend up to 15 miles from Gilma’s center, while tropical-storm-force winds reach out as far as 80 miles.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Hone, located about 240 miles west-southwest of Honolulu and 205 miles south-southwest of Lihue as of 5 a.m., is moving west at 13 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. With maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, Hone is expected to continue on this path, moving away from the main Hawaiian Islands and passing well north of Johnston Island by Tuesday night.

Gradual weakening of the storm is anticipated over the next few days, weather officials said.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles from Hone’s center.

Additionally, Tropical Storm Hector, located about 1,080 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, has also shown signs of strengthening.

As of 5 a.m., Hector was located about 1,990 miles east-southeast of Hilo and had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and was moving west at 10 mph, the NHC said. The storm is expected to follow a westward to west-northwestward track over the next few days, with some slight additional strengthening possible.

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

Residents are advised to monitor updates, although both Gilma and Hector are expected to remain far from the islands, and Hone is moving away.

The islands will see more typical breezy tradewinds today with clouds and showers mostly over windward and mauka areas, according to the National Weather Service.

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