Hurricane Kiko barrels toward Hawaii prompting state of emergency ahead of massive waves, rip currents
Forecasters say Hurricane Kiko will likely to weaken to a tropical storm by Tuesday, but will still carry the potential for heavy rain and large, dangerous surf.
Hurricane Kiko drops to Category 2 storm approaching Hawaii
FOX Weather Meteorologist Jane Minar has the latest advisory and updates on Hurricane Kiko. The cyclone has weakened slightly to a Category 2 storm with 110 mph winds. Kiko is still forecast to pass north of the Hawaiian islands.
HONOLULU – A state of emergency remains in effect across the state of Hawaii as powerful Hurricane Kiko continues to barrel across the Central Pacific Ocean on a path bringing it close to the Aloha State this week.
Hawaii's acting governor declared the statewide state of emergency over the weekend as the powerful storm ripped across the Pacific as a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher). By Sunday afternoon, Kiko was downgraded to a Category 2 storm.
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As of the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Hurricane Kiko is located about 635 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii, and just over 900 miles east-southeast of Honolulu, and is moving off to the west-northwest at 13 mph.
Maximum sustained winds within Hurricane Kiko have dropped to about 110 mph with some higher gusts.
Forecasters say Hurricane Kiko will likely to weaken to a tropical storm by Tuesday, but will still carry the potential for heavy rain and large, dangerous surf.
The current forecast track indicates the storm will likely pass just to the north of the islands on Tuesday and Wednesay, and the odds of a direct landfall strike are very low. But large swells are expected to begin affecting the Big Island as early as Sunday.
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"Swells generated by Hurricane Kiko are expected to reach the Big Island and Maui (Sunday)," the NHC said in its latest update. "These swells will gradually build and are forecast to peak along east-facing exposures of the Hawaiian Islands late Monday through midweek."
As a result, life-threatening surf and rip currents at beaches will be possible.
In addition, heavy rain could batter the islands if Kiko passes close enough.
Acting Hawaii Gov. Sylvia Luke said the state isn't taking any chances and is urging residents to monitor the forecasts. Luke's emergency proclamation mobilizes state agencies and the Hawaii National Guard.
"To ensure the safety and preparedness of our communities, the state and counties will stand ready to mobilize resources to clear debris, secure infrastructure, and respond quickly to any possible damage caused by the storm," Luke said.
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Hurricane Kiko to begin weakening on Sunday
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Hurricane Kiko has been varying between a Category 3 and 4 storm since Thursday as it fed off the toasty warm waters of the tropical Pacific Ocean.
The NHC said Kiko will find much less hospitable conditions across the Central Pacific Ocean needed for survival, and the storm will begin to lose strength.
Satellites estimate that sea-surface temperatures between the hurricane's current location and the Big Island of Hawaii are in the mid-70s, which is considered several degrees cooler than what a tropical cyclone typically needs for strengthening. In addition, Kiko is about to run into more hostile upper-level winds and drier air, working in tandem to sap even more strength.
Current forecasts predict Kiko will drop to minimal hurricane strength by Monday night, then likely be downgraded to a tropical storm by Tuesday morning as it makes its closest approach to the islands.
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Kiko is expected to continue to weaken as it churns to the north of Hawaii during the day Tuesday.
Also limiting the storm's impacts is the storm's relatively small size. Hurricane-force winds only extend outward 25 miles and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles, meaning that chances are fairly low that Hawaii will see damaging wind impacts.
"Because the circulation is small, and even the Big Island is a relative speck in the vastness of the ocean, a slight deviation in Kiko's track will make a dramatic difference in the weather that impacts Hawaii," FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross said. "We won't really have a good idea about that until the storm gets closer, but right now, the consensus is that Kiko’s center will pass just north of the islands with most of the moisture and wind offshore."