UPDATE: Niala Continues to Weaken South of the State

***Updated at 11 p.m. to include information from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center’s 11 p.m. advisory.***

By: Jamilia Epping

As of 11 p.m., Tropical Storm Niala continue to remain south of the state. The storm was 330 miles south-southwest of Hilo with decreased wind speeds to 40 miles per hour.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center reports that the storm is movingin a west-southwest direction at about 10 miles per hour and is expected to continue on its current path.

CPHC forecasters say that on Monday and Tuesday, Tropical Storm Niala should begin to slow in forward speed and also show weakening.

It’s like that Tropical Storm Niala will weaken to a remnant low by late Tuesday.

***Updated at 5 p.m. to include information from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center’s 5 p.m. advisory.***

By: Jamilia Epping

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center’s 5 p.m. advisory showed that Tropical Storm Niala was about 275 miles south of Hilo, holding slightly decreased wind speeds of 45 miles per hour as it moves in a west-southwest direction at nine mph.

CPHC forecasters expect that Tropical Storm Niala will continue on its current path through Tuesday afternoon. The storm is forecast to slow in forward speed after Monday and weaken through Tuesday.

Despite Tropical Storm Niala’s movement south of the island and the drop of the Tropical Storm Watch Sunday morning, portions of the state, including the Big Island, still face the potential of hazardous conditions. The potential conditions are caused by moisture and a swell brought in by strong trade winds and the residue of Tropical Storm Niala.

CPHC expects that rainfall will impact the Big Island through Monday.

The Big Island is under a Flash Flood Watch through Sunday evening.

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

By: Jamilia Epping

As of 11 a.m. Sunday, Tropical Strom Niala was located about 260 miles south of Hilo. The storm was moving in a west-southwest direction at seven miles per hour, holding maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center reports that Tropical Storm Niala is expected to continue along its current path and gradually weaken through Tuesday morning.

Rain is forecast to fall between two and five inches with higher amounts potentially in some areas. This rain is expected through Monday.

A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for the island through Monday.

Swells continue to be forecast to produce large surf along east and southeast facing shores of the Big Island through Sunday night. A High Surf Advisory remains in effect through 6 a.m. Monday.

A Tropical Storm Watch for the island was canceled Sunday morning, however, a Wind Advisory is in effect for the islands until 6 a.m. Monday. Easterly winds are forecast to reach between 20 and 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.