Hurricane maintains its course towards Hawaii
Tropical Storm Henriette Moves Away from Hawaii
Tropical Storm Henriette, which recently reached hurricane strength, is moving northwestward away from Hawaii. According to Philippe Papin, senior hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center, the storm is expected to weaken and dissipate without threatening the islands.
Current Status
As of 5 p.m. Thursday, Tropical Storm Henriette was about 1,090 miles east of Hilo, moving west at 16 mph. The storm's current location remains east of Hilo. The storm's maximum sustained winds are currently around 40 mph with locally higher gusts.
Expected Path and Timeline
Henriette is expected to cross into the Central Pacific basin this morning. The forecast track is fairly steady for the next 48 hours, steered by a mid-level low northwest of Hawaii and a large Pacific Northwest ridge. However, Papin predicts a gradual turn to the northwest today and over the weekend, keeping the center of the storm well north of the islands.
The storm is forecasted to weaken and become post-tropical by around 72 to 96 hours from the last update, dissipating completely by 120 hours.
Intensity
Henriette has been fluctuating near Category 1 hurricane intensity but is currently weakening. Earlier forecasts showed fluctuations between tropical storm and Category 1 hurricane status, with maximum winds estimated around 75–85 mph.
Impact on Hawaii
Multiple sources indicate that Henriette is not forecast to threaten land, including Hawaii. Its track is north and northwest of the Hawaiian Islands, and the storm is expected to weaken before causing any direct impact.
In summary, Henriette is currently a Category 1 hurricane moving northwest away from Hawaii, forecast to weaken and dissipate without threatening the islands. Any impacts on Hawaii should be minimal or none based on the latest track and intensity forecasts.
Sources:
- National Hurricane Center (NHC)
- Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC)
- Hawaii News Now
- Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Note: The article's title and subheadings were added for clarity and readability, but they are not present in the original bullet points.
Directly impacting Hawaii seems unlikely, as Tropical Storm Henriette is forecast to continue moving northwest and weaken, according to the National Hurricane Center. However, the storm's environmental-science implications may still be observed, as scientists study its path and weather patterns as it traverses the Central Pacific basin.
