Overnight, Hurricane Ignacio’s intensity increased to a category three hurricane. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center adjusted the forecast track closer to and issued a tropical storm watch for the Big Island of Hawaii. Please pray for this storm to continue beginning weakening, for the protection and safety of people in the path of the storm, and for them to prepare for the storm. Hurricane Jimena continues to increase in strength, is more than week away at this time, and has a track that may also bring it close to Hawaii.
IGNACIO RAPIDLY INTENSIFIES TO A MAJOR HURRICANE
SUMMARY OF 500 AM HST INFORMATION———————————————-
LOCATION: 15.9N 146.5W ABOUT 625 MI ESE OF HILO HAWAII AND ABOUT 835 MI ESE OF HONOLULU HAWAII
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS: 115 MPH.
PRESENT MOVEMENT: WNW OR 300 DEGREES AT 8 MPH.
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
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A TROPICAL STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR HAWAII COUNTY.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA GENERALLY WITHIN 48 HOURS. INTERESTS ELSEWHERE IN THE MAIN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS SHOULD CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF IGNACIO. WATCHES MAY BE REQUIRED FOR ADDITIONAL ISLANDS LATER TODAY OR TONIGHT.
FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN HONOLULU HAWAII.
DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
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AT 500 AM HST, THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IGNACIO WAS LOCATED NEAR LAT 15.9 N AND LONG 146.5 W. IGNACIO IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 8 MPH AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK THE OUTER WINDS OF IGNACIO COULD AFFECT THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII BY EARLY MONDAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 115 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. IGNACIO IS A CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE. SOME ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST TODAY FOLLOWED BY GRADUAL WEAKENING ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY.
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 35 MILES 55 KM FROM THE CENTER AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES.
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
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WIND: TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE ON THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII ON MONDAY.
RAINFALL: TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS NEAR 6 INCHES MAINLY IN AREAS OF HIGHER TERRAIN ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WATCH AREA.
SURF: LARGE SWELLS GENERATED BY IGNACIO WILL ARRIVE ALONG EAST AND SOUTHEAST FACING SHORES OF THE MAIN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. RESULTANT SURF WILL BE LARGE AND POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING ESPECIALLY ON THE BIG ISLAND LATER THIS WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK.
PLEASE CLICK THE PICTURE BELOW FOR AN UPDATE HURRICANE JIMENA 
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