UPDATE: TS Kiko Should Begin Weakening Tuesday

5 PM HST, Monday, Sept. 23, 2019: NWS National Hurricane Center

KIKO EXPECTED TO BEGIN WEAKENING TUESDAY

At 5 p.m. HST, the center of Tropical Storm Kiko was located near latitude 17°N, longitude 137.5°W, roughly 1,170 miles east of Hilo. Kiko is moving toward the northwest near 12 mph and this motion is expected to continue through Tuesday. A gradual turn to the west-northwest then west is expected Tuesday night through Wednesday night.

Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph with higher gusts. A weakening trend is forecast to begin on Tuesday, and Kiko should weaken to a tropical depression by Wednesday, and degenerate into a remnant low by Thursday.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 29.53 inches.

Tropical Storm Kiko, 5 p.m. HST, Monday, Sept. 23, 2019. PC: NOAA

11 AM HST, Monday, Sept. 23, 2019: NWS National Hurricane Center

KIKO STRENGTHENS SOME MORE

At 11 a.m. HST, the center of Tropical Storm Kiko was located near latitude 15.9°N, longitude 136.5°W, about 1,250 miles East of Hilo. Kiko is moving toward the west-northwest near 8 mph. A turn to the northwest is expected to occur tonight with that motion continuing on Tuesday. A turn to the west is forecast to occur on Wednesday.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph with higher gusts. Some additional strengthening is possible through tonight, but weakening is forecast to begin on Tuesday and Kiko is forecast to become a remnant low later this week.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 29.53 inches.