Surf Impacts from Jimena Diminishing

By: Jamilia Epping

High surf will continue to be an impact of Tropical Storm Jimena through Tuesday as the storm moves west, currently north of the Hawaiian Islands. Jimena continues to produce large swells that have created hazardous surf and the continuation of a high surf advisory for east and south facing shores through 6 p.m. Tuesday.

As of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center’s 5 a.m. update, Tropical Storm Jimena was about 495 miles north-northeast of Hilo, traveling in a west direction at about 8 miles per hour and holding maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.

Forecasters say Tropical Storm Jimena will continue to move to the west Tuesday before turning west-southwest on Wednesday and Thursday.

As surf conditions taper off, the effects of Tropical Storm Jimena will be less felt on the Big Island and throughout the state. Jimena is anticipated to continue on and gradually weaken over the next five days. By Wednesday, the storm should be at tropical depression status.

It is forecast that Tropical Storm Jimena will be drawn towards the eastern flank of low pressure that is developing to the north of the northwestern Hawaiian Islands during the work week.