UPDATE: Guillermo Upgraded to Category Two Hurricane

***Updated at 11:30 p.m. to include information from the National Hurricane Center’s 11 p.m. update. ***

Hurricane Guillermo was 1,250 east-southeast of Hilo, as of 11 p.m. Friday.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Guillermo remains a Category 2 hurricane as wind speeds continue at 105 miles per hour.

NOAA satellite image as of 11 p.m. Friday.

The storm’s movement has slowed slightly from what was reported at 5 p.m. Currently, Hurricane Guillermo is moving at a rate of 16 mph in a west-northwest direction.

NHC says the oceanic and atmospheric environment is not likely to contribute to the stregthening of the storm over the weekend. A general weakening trend is expected.

***Updated at 5:15 p.m. to include information from the National Hurricane Center’s 5 p.m. update.***

As of the National Hurricane Center’s 5 p.m. update, Hurricane Guillermo remains a Category 2 hurricane with wind speeds up to 105 miles per hour.

National Hurricane Center image as of 5 p.m.

Currently, Hurricane Guillermo is about 1,335 miles to the east-southeast of Hilo, moving at a pace of about 20 miles per hour. The pace of the storm has increased by two mph since NHC’s 11 a.m. update.

Hurricane Guillermo is moving in a rapid west-northwest direction and forecasters predict that the motion will continue over the next 24 hours. During the later part of the weekend an into early next week, Hurricane Guillermo is expected to slow down and tilt to the northwest.

***Original story posted at 11:17 a.m. ***

Hurricane Guillermo has been upgrade to a category two hurricane.

As of 11 a.m. Friday, Hurricane Guillermo was about 1,430 miles to the east-southeast of Hilo with maximum sustained winds of 105 miles per hour and is moving at a pace of about 18 mph in a west northwest direction.

National Hurricane Center officials believe the storm will continue its current force as the day continues and gradually reduce in forward speed on Saturday.

It is forecasted that Hurricane Guillermo will become a major hurricane over the weekend after entering into hurricane status late Thursday night.

Forecasts say that the current environment, including low sheer and a warm ocean, presents favorable conditions for the intensification of the storm in the immediate future. By the tail end of the weekend, the storm is predicted to move into less favorable sheer conditions.

Stay with BigIslandNow.com as we continue to follow Hurricane Guillermo.