Jimena Dropped to Tropical Storm Status, Weakens

By: Jamilia Epping

Jimena, who dropped from hurricane to a tropical storm status Saturday is continuing to weaken as it travels towards the northwest.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center reported early Sunday morning that the storm was located about 535 miles east-northeast of Hilo.

CPHC’s 5 a.m. update listed Tropical Storm Jimena as holding maximum sustained winds of  60 miles per hour and moving in a northwest direction at 9 mph.

Forecasters say Tropical Storm Jimena is expected to take a turn towards the west and slow in forward speed over the next couple of days, becoming a tropical depression on Tuesday.

A westerly to northwesterly shear is expected to be strong enough to continue Tropical Storm Jimena’s weakening and is forecast to eventually break apart the storm.

Large surf generated by large and powerful long-period swells will continue over the next couple of days. East facing shores are seeing hazardous and potentially life-threatening surf.