Remnants of at least two former hurricanes are bringing muggy conditions and rain to Hawaii as yet another tropical cyclone — Tropical Storm Estelle — formed in the East Pacific on a path that could also take it past the islands.
The train of storms in the East Pacific continues as the third hurricane of the season, Darby, strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane, with sustained winds of 105 mph and higher gusts.
Most of what’s left of former Hurricane Blas, a mass of tropical moisture and low clouds, has moved west of the islands.
However, more storm remnants are following a similar path to Hawaii.
“Muggy conditions will continue over the islands through next week, with light winds late this weekend and early next week making it feel particularly warm,” forecasters said.
Tradewinds should provide slight relief today, but on Sunday remnants of what is now Tropical Depression Celia will pass a couple hundred miles north of the islands, bringing lighter winds, more muggy conditions and possibly a few heavy showers through Wednesday.
Celia crossed into the Central Pacific on Friday as a tropical storm, weakened to a tropical depression late Friday morning and was a remnant low by Friday afternoon. At 5 p.m. Celia had winds of 35 mph as the storm moved west at 13 mph.
Celia was about 750 miles east-northeast of Hilo and 905 miles east of Honolulu.
The forecast for Honolulu and south shores of Oahu calls for partly cloudy to mostly sunny skies with scattered showers through Tuesday night.
Forecasters said there might be a brief return of the tradewinds Wednesday and Thursday before remnants of what is now Hurricane Darby approach the islands.
Darby strengthened in the East Pacific to a Category 2 hurricane and is likely to begin weakening over cooler waters this weekend. As of 5 p.m. it was heading west-northwest at 9 mph.
The center of the storm was 2,157 statute miles east of Hilo at 5 p.m., with hurricane-force winds extending 35 miles out.
Darby could also send some surf to east shores of the Hawaiian Islands on Monday, but it’s too early to say what its exact path and impact on Hawaii’s weather will be.
Behind Darby, Tropical Storm Estelle formed about 370 miles south-southeast of Manzanillo, Mexico. The storm had winds of 40 mph and was moving west-northwest at 12 mph. Estelle could become a hurricane by Sunday.
If it does, it could also send surf to the islands next week.
While Estelle is roughly following in the footsteps of the other four tropical cyclones this season, it is too early to predict with certainty whether it will also bring muggy weather and rain to Hawaii.
