Tropical Storm Flossie continues to move through the eastern Pacific, and according to the most recent public advisory issued by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) at 8:00 a.m. PST on Friday, "interests in the Hawaiian Islands" are being urged to monitor the storm through the weekend.
Flossie was classified as a tropical storm soon after developing off the coast of Central America on Thursday. The storm is currently located approximately 1,520 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii and is travelling to the west-northwest near 18 mph. This general motion is expected to continue over the next few days.
As the storm continues on through the eastern Pacific and into the central Pacific it will encounter cooler waters, and according to forecast models, it's becoming increasingly likely that it will weaken further as it moves through the Pacific Ocean and closer to land.
Maximum sustained winds are currently being reported near 50 mph, with higher gusts and tropical storm force winds reaching outward up to 70 miles.
Forecasters are not expecting Flossie to reach hurricane status, which would require wind speeds of 74 mph or higher. Indeed, the storm is expected to gradually weaken through the end of the weekend.
Weather predictions show outer winds from Tropical Storm Flossie reaching the southeast offshore waters of Hawaii by Sunday night. The storm itself is expected to make landfall by Tuesday morning, but by then there's a distinct possibility that it will have weakened to a tropical rainstorm.
"That does not mean that Flossie will pass by unnoticed across Hawaii," said AccuWeather meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski. "Enhanced shower activity will spread from east to west across the islands Monday night through Wednesday."
Flossie is expected to bring with it hazardous surf and possible riptide conditions, so swimmers and surfers are urged to take caution should they brave the water when the storm is in the vicinity.
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