UPDATE: Tropical Storm Guillermo Continues to Strengthen

***Updated at 3 p.m. to include the National Hurricane Center’s 2 p.m. update. ***

As of the National Hurricane Center’s 2 p.m. update, Tropical Storm Guillermo remains about 1,905 miles east-southeast of Hilo.

NHC reports that the storm is moving in a west-northwest direction at about 14 miles per hour with maximum winds at 60 mph.

Central Pacific Hurricane Center satellite image.

Tropical Storm Guillermo is expected to increase in forward speed over the next 48 hours and is still expected to reach hurricane status by Friday.

While the storm remains in Eastern Pacific waters, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center expects that the storm will cross over into Central Pacific waters on Saturday. Once the storm enters Central Pacific waters, the CPHC will take over storm-monitoring responsibilities.

***Original story posted at 10:36 a.m.***

The National Hurricane Center is currently tracking Tropical Storm Guillermo in the Eastern Pacific.  Wind strength continues to increase and continued strengthening is expected to continue over the next 48 hours. It has been forecast by the National Hurricane Center that Tropical Storm Guillermo could become a hurricane by Friday morning.

As of 8 a.m. Thursday, Tropical Storm Guillermo was about 1,980 miles to the east-southeast of Hilo with maximum sustained winds at about 45 miles per hour. The storm is tracking to the west northwest at 13 mph and has tropical storm force winds extending to an area of up to 60 miles from the center of the storm.

According to the National Hurricane Center’s forecast, the environment that Tropical Storm Guillermo is entering appears to be favorable for continued strengthening. It is expected that the storm will continue to remain in a favorable environment for strengthening over the next three to four days with a one-in-three chance of intensification over the next 24 hours.

Once the storm enters the Central Pacific, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center, stationed in Honolulu, will take over the storm watch. Tropical Storm Guillermo is anticipated to be the fourth storm in the central pacific so far this hurricane season.

The storm has not caused any coastal watches or warnings.

As Hurricane Season begins, all Hawai’i residents are advised to remain alert and to prepare a readiness kit.