Tropical Storm Iona forms south of Hawaii in Central Pacific with winds up to 40 mph
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Tropical Storm Iona's maximum sustained winds reached 40 mph, officially designating it as a tropical storm.
Advertisement
A tropical storm is a tropical cyclone that has maximum sustained winds between 39 and 73 mph – an upgrade from a tropical depression.
Tropical Storm Iona is currently located about 960 miles southeast of Honolulu and is moving off to the west at 10 mph, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 50 mph.
According to the NHC, Iona is expected to strengthen over the next 48 hours and develop into a hurricane by Monday night, before weakening Tuesday.
The NHC said Tropical Storm Iona is expected to stay well south of the Hawaiian Islands.
3 Tropical Storm Iona in the Central Pacific; wind 40 mph, movement west at 10 mph, pressure 1005 mb.
FOX Weather
3 According to the NHC, Iona is expected to strengthen over the next 48 hours and develop into a hurricane by Monday night, before weakening Tuesday.
Getty Images
Advertisement
3 Tropical Storm Iona forecast track in the Central Pacific.
FOX Weather
Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post's signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here!
This story is developing. Check back frequently for updates.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
4 hours ago
- CBS News
Hurricane Iona strengthens to Category 3 storm off southern Hawaii
Hurricane Iona strengthened to a Category 3 storm in the central Pacific Ocean on Tuesday, several hundred miles off the southern coast of Hawaii, forecasters said. Iona was located about 790 miles south-southeast of Hawaii's capital city of Honolulu on Tuesday morning, with maximum sustained winds near 115 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center based in Miami. Forecasters said the storm didn't pose an immediate threat to the Hawaiian Islands and no coastal watches or warnings are in effect. Iona was expected to move westward for the next couple of days, forecasters with the hurricane center said. "Additional strengthening is forecast tonight, with steady weakening expected to begin by Wednesday," the center said. Iona initially formed as a tropical depression late Saturday night, forecasters said. As the depression gained strength, it became the first named storm in the central Pacific Ocean this season. It is one of two major weather systems in the central Pacific Ocean. Tropical Storm Keli is farther south with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. It was about 960 miles southeast of Honolulu and was moving west at about 12 mph. The eastern Pacific has seen several named storms so far this season. Last month, Erick made landfall in Mexico as a Category 3 hurricane. Earlier this month, Flossie also reached Category 3 strength as it skirted up the Mexican coast, but ultimately didn't make landfall. Barbara, this season's first hurricane in the eastern Pacific, reached Category 1 strength off Mexico's coast and also didn't make landfall. The Atlantic Ocean has seen three named tropical storms so far this year. Forecasters at Colorado State University expect the Atlantic season to be above average with 16 named storms, eight of which are expected to be hurricanes.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Hurricane Iona has strengthened into a Category 3 storm: See path
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. Develop an evacuation plan: If you are at risk from hurricanes, you need an evacuation plan. Now is the time to begin planning where you would go and how you would get there. Assemble disaster supplies: Whether you're evacuating or sheltering-in-place, you're going to need supplies not just to get through the storm but for the potentially lengthy aftermath, NOAA said. Get an insurance checkup and document your possessions: Contact your insurance company or agent now and ask for an insurance check-up to make sure you have enough insurance to repair or even replace your home and/or belongings. Remember, home and renters insurance doesn't cover flooding, so you'll need a separate policy for it. Flood insurance is available through your company, agent, or the National Flood Insurance Program. Act now, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period. Create a family communication plan: NOAA said to take the time now to write down your hurricane plan, and share it with your family. Determine family meeting places, and make sure to include an out-of-town location in case of evacuation. Strengthen your home: Now is the time to improve your home's ability to withstand hurricane impacts. Trim trees; install storm shutters, accordion shutters, and/or impact glass; seal outside wall openings. Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hurricane Iona: See projected path, spaghetti models for the storm
USA Today
7 hours ago
- USA Today
Hurricane Iona has strengthened into a Category 3 storm: See path
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 Gdhauari@
