Tropical Storm Kiko forecasted to become hurricane in two days

Tropical Storm Kiko is forecast to move into the central Pacific later this week as it strengthens and possibly develops into a hurricane.

The center of the storm was located near latitude 14.5 north and longitude 124.6 west, moving west at about 9 mph (15 km/h). This motion is expected to continue over the next few days.

Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 km/h), with higher gusts. Forecasters expect the storm to strengthen steadily and become a hurricane within a day or two.

A weakened trade wind inversion around 8,000 feet has been observed, matching radar signals that show shower tops reaching about 10,000 feet. Showers formed over the islands during the afternoon because of daytime heating and low-level moisture, but they remained scattered. This was likely due to high clouds cutting off the sea breeze, which briefly appeared over Oahu, where winds have already shifted to the ENE at HNL.

Because there was no organized surface convergence, showers did not become well developed. Conditions are expected to clear in interior areas this evening, with skies mostly clear at lower levels and high clouds above. Light to moderate trade winds will bring occasional showers to windward and mountain areas through the night.

Models suggest today could mark the lightest winds of the week, though the difference will be small, as the trade wind belt shifts slightly northward and the upper low northwest of Kauai moves away. Moderate, steady trades are expected to continue through the rest of the forecast period.

Rainfall should remain limited as drier air returns early in the week, with dew points dropping back to the upper 60s.

(KHON2)

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