Tuesday was a busy day; Major Hurricane Iona rapidly intensified into a strong category 3 hurricane while Tropical Storm Keli developed; it looked like a third tropical cyclone may soon form too. The tropical cyclone activity took second stage late in the day though as a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Russia triggered an island-wide Tsunami Warning for Hawaii. But today, all of those things are fizzling or faded with fair conditions persisting for the Aloha State.
While the threat of a widespread catastrophic tsunami has passed, the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) continues to caution about volatile surf and currents around Hawaii. A Tsunami Advisory had been extended through to noon local time but has since been cancelled.
The NTWC says, “tsunami waves that can be a hazard to swimmers and boaters as well as to persons near the shore at beaches and in harbors and marinas are now affecting the state of Hawaii.” They add, “Small sea level changes and strong or unusual currents may persist for several additional hours in some coastal areas and appropriate caution should be exercised by boaters and swimmers.”
While the tsunami threat diminishes, what was once powerful Major Hurricane Iona has started to fade away. According to the latest advisory from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center and National Hurricane Center, Iona is barely a hurricane now with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph.
Located at 11.5 N 160.2 W roughly 695 miles south-southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii, Hurricane Iona is weakening rapidly as it heads west at 20 mph. Minimum central pressure is up to 987 mb or 29.15″. The National Hurricane Center expects additional rapid weakening today and Iona is expected to weaken to a tropical storm soon. Beyond that, little change in strength is expected tonight and Thursday.
Tropical Storm Keli is also losing its punch. Located at 13.8 N and 155.5 W which is about 540 miles south-southeast of Honolulu, Hawaii, Keli is racing west at 21 mph. The tropical storm’s pressure is up to 1006 mb or 29.71″. A fast westward to west-northwestward motion is expected to continue during the next day or so. Keli is expected to weaken to a tropical depression by later today and dissipate by Thursday.
Meanwhile, showers and thunderstorms associated with an area of low pressure located around 1,000 miles east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands remain limited. This area was expected to become a new tropical cyclone with time but it looks unlikely at this point. However, if persistent showers and thunderstorms re-develop during the next day or so, a short-lived tropical depression could still form. But after that time, environmental conditions are expected to become less conducive for development. For now, the National Hurricane Center says there’s only a 40% chance that an additional tropical cyclone will form here.
