Tropical weather update: Tropical Storm Greg moving well south of Big Island; Fernanda continues to weaken

Two tropical storms continue to churn in the Central and Eastern Pacific basins; however, neither should have any impacts on the Hawaiian Islands.

Tropical Storm Greg, moving west south of the island chain, had weakened slightly by 11 a.m. today. The storm was about 565 miles south-southeast of Hilo and 590 south-southeast of Kailua-Kona, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph as it continues on a westward track at about 14 mph.

According to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu, Greg will continue moving west through the next day and a half, with a turn toward the west-southwest forecast Friday and continuing into the weekend, moving it even farther away from the state.

Little change in strength is forecast during the next 24 hours followed by steady weakening. Greg is expected to become a post-tropical remnant low this weekend.

Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the storm’s center.

Farther east, now-Tropical Storm Fernanda continues to weaken as it moves west at about 14 mph, still in the Eastern Pacific. The storm was about 1,795 miles east of Hilo and 1,840 miles east of South Point as of 11 a.m. today. It’s maximum sustained winds had decreased to about 50 mph.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla., said Fernanda is expected to continue moving west and weaken more during the next few days. The storm is likely to become a post-tropical cyclone by tonight and dissipate by this weekend.

Tropical storm-force winds extend out from Fernanda’s center up to 80 miles.

“Low clouds and showers will impact Kaua‘i and O‘ahu through tonight,” said the Hawai’i area synopsis from the National Weather Service forecast office in Honolulu at 9:58 a.m. Wednesday. “Drier air with slightly stronger trade winds over Maui County and the Big Island will spread west tonight and Thursday. Wind speeds will weaken by Friday and continue through the weekend. Tropical moisture with increasing showers and dew points associated with the remnants of former tropical cyclone Fernanda will move in early next week.”

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Hilary in the Eastern Pacific is expected to become a hurricane by Thursday; steady to rapid strengthening is forecast during the next few days. The storm will move on a track west of Mexico and the Baja California peninsula.

It is forecast to remain in the Eastern Pacific and looks like it will impact portions of Baja California and Southern California.

As of the latest update from the National Hurricane Center, Hilary was 370 miles from Manzanillo, Mexico, moving west-northwest at 15 mph with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. A turn to the northwest is forecast Friday followed by a turn to the north-northwest Saturday.

Tropical storm-force winds extended out from the storm’s center up to 205 miles.