Hurricane Iona has strengthened into a Category 3 storm: See path

USA Today

6 days ago

All is calm in the Atlantic Ocean – for now, at least – however the National Hurricane Center is staying busy with the Pacific Ocean, as forecasters are currently tracking five systems, including one hurricane and one tropical storm.
The hurricane center said in a July 28 advisory Hurricane Iona has strengthened into a major hurricane well south of the Hawaiian Islands. The NHC said the storm was located about 790 miles south-southeast of Honolulu with maximum sustained winds near 115 mph with higher gusts, making Iona a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale.
Iona is moving toward the west and this motion is expected to continue with a gradual increase in forward speed during the next couple of days, according to hurricane center forecasters, who expect additional strengthening Tuesday night with steady weakening expected to begin by Wednesday.
Will Hurricane Iona impact Hawaii?
No direct impacts are expected to the Hawaiian Islands. However, AccuWeather reports the increased trade winds combined with "moderate or greater drought conditions across over half of the Hawaiian Islands" will increase the wildfire risk through much of this week.
More weather news: What is a derecho? These 'inland hurricanes' can cause tremendous damage
NHC also tracking Tropical Storm Keli, three other disturbances in Pacific Ocean
Tropical Storm Keli has also formed in the Pacific, with the hurricane center saying in a July 28 advisory that the storm was located about 960 miles southeast of Honolulu.
Keli has maximum sustained winds near 40 mph with higher gusts and is forecast to continue moving westward during the next few days. The hurricane center says "little change in strength" is forecast during the next couple of days.
Also in the Pacific, the hurricane center said late Monday night, July 28, an area of low pressure located about 1,500 miles east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands has "changed little since earlier today." Forecasters said environmental conditions appear "marginally conducive" for some development of this system, and a tropical depression or tropical storm could form during the next day or two as the system moves westward.
The NHC gives the system, labeled as EP98, a 60% chance of formation through the next 48 hours.
The hurricane center also said it is keeping tabs on another "large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms" located a few hundred miles south of the southern coast of Mexico that is associated with a trough of low pressure.
"Environmental conditions appear conducive for development, and a tropical depression is likely to form during the next couple of days," the NHC said July 28, although the system is expected to remain well offshore of the southwestern coast of Mexico. The hurricane center gives the system a 90% chance of formation through the next seven days.
Lastly, an area of low pressure is forecast to develop several hundred miles south of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula late this week, according to the NHC. Environmental conditions appear conducive for some gradual development, forecasters said, giving the system a 20% chance of formation through the next seven days.
Hurricane Iona tracker
This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time.
Hurricane Iona spaghetti models
This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time.
How do hurricanes form?
Hurricanes are born in the tropics, above warm water. Clusters of thunderstorms can develop over the ocean when water temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression.
A tropical depression becomes a named tropical storm once its sustained wind speeds reaches 39 miles per hour. When its winds reach 74 mph, the storm officially becomes a hurricane.
Prepare now for hurricanes
Delaying potentially life-saving preparations could mean waiting until it's too late. "Get your disaster supplies while the shelves are still stocked, and get that insurance checkup early, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period," NOAA recommends.
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at [e-mail].