Two-C Could Become Hurricane by Wednesday

Tropical Depression Two-C could reach hurricane status by Wednesday morning, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center’s first storm advisory, issued at 11 a.m. Monday.

The initial cone projection shows Two-C becoming a tropical storm sometime before 8 a.m. Tuesday and reaching hurricane status about 24 hours later. The projected path of the storm currently has it shy of the Big Island at 8 a.m. Saturday. Forecasts predict that it could remain a hurricane at that time.

CPHC forecasters say that “steady strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours.”

As of 11 a.m., Tropical Depression Two-C was located 915 miles to the east-southeast of Hilo and 970 miles east-southeast of Kailua-Kona. Maximum sustained winds were recorded at 35 miles per hour with movement towards the west-northwest at 10 mph.

In the National Weather Service’s discussion on the storm outlook, forecaster Tom Birchard stated that “intensity guidance indicates that a steady intensification rate can be expected…with shear light and water temperatures sufficiently warm along the forecast track.”

Two-E became a tropical depression early Monday morning. If it strengthens into a tropical storm, it will take the name “Ana.”