Tropical Storm Oho Not Expected to Become Hurricane

By: Jamilia Epping

As of 5 a.m., Tropical Storm Oho was about 390 miles south of Hilo, creeping along at two miles per hour in a north-northeast direction.

The storm picked up speed by one mile per hour since the Central Pacific Hurricane Center’s 11 p.m. Sunday advisory and has held onto wind speeds of 50 mph.

CPHC forecasters say that Tropical Storm Oho is expected to turn toward the northeast at some point either during the day or night of Monday. The storm is also expected to pick-up in forward speed towards the northeast on Tuesday.

In addition to forward speed, Tropical Storm Oho is predicted to intensify through Tuesday night.

On Sunday night, hurricane hunters flew into Tropical Storm Oho. They are expected to conduct another flight late Monday morning and potentially again in the evening. Along with the crew from the United States 53^rd Weather Reconnaissance squadron, the NOAA G-IV aircraft also has a scheduled flight around the storm. The NOAA G-IV will collect a synoptic sampling mission in order for the data to be used in afternoon storm models.

CPHC officials say that Tropical Storm Oho should remain a Tropical Storm for the next three days before turning to an extratropical system, known as a synoptic scale low pressure weather system, in the fourth day.

Stick with Big Island Now as we continue to follow the 2015 hurricane season.