UPDATES: Erick Now Officially a Hurricane

8 PM: NWS Pacific Hurricane Center

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on Hurricane Erick, which was centered about 1,050 miles east southeast of Hilo as of 8 p.m. HST.

Maximum sustained winds increased to near 75 mph late Monday afternoon, with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours before weakening is predicted to start late Wednesday.

5 PM: NWS Pacific Hurricane Center

ERICK BECOMES A HURRICANE AND HEADS INTO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC

Hurricane Erick is approximately 1,110 miles ESE of Hilo as of 5 p.m. HST. Erick has become a hurricane and is now headed into the central Pacific.

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

At 5 p.m. HST, the center of Hurricane Erick was located near latitude 12.7°N, longitude 140.0°W. Erick is moving toward the west near 18 mph. A west-northwest course at a slower forward speed is expected to begin on Tuesday and continue through Thursday.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 mph, with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours before weakening is predicted to start late Wednesday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 29.24 inches.

2 PM: NWS Pacific Hurricane Center

The National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida is issuing advisories on Tropical Storm Erick, centered over 1,100 miles east-southeast of Hilo. Erick is expected to intensify and move into the Central Pacific Hurricane Center area of responsibility as a hurricane Monday night.

11 AM: NWS Pacific Hurricane Center

ERICK IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A HURRICANE SOON AND THEN POTENTIALLY A MAJOR HURRICANE ON TUESDAY.

Tropical Storm Erick is approximately 1,205 miles ESE of Hilo. Erick is expected to become a hurricane soon and then potentially a major hurricane on Tuesday.

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

At 11 a.m. HST, the center of Tropical Storm Erick was located near latitude 12.7°N, longitude 138.4°W. Erick is moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph. A west-northwest track with a slower forward speed is expected to start on Tuesday and continue through Wednesday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph, with higher gusts. Erick is expected to become a hurricane soon and then potentially a major hurricane on Tuesday.  A weakening trend is forecast to begin by later in the week.

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

The estimated minimum central pressure is 29.27 inches.

The environment is expected to generally be conducive for continued intensification during the next 36-48 hours, and Erick could still attain major hurricane status during that time.

Thereafter, a significant increase in shear is predicted by almost all of the guidance. This is a strong signal for rapid weakening in the 2 to 3 day time frame, and the official forecast follows suit, showing a more rapid weakening than the previous advisory.

8 AM: NWS Pacific Hurricane Center

Tropical Storm Erick is approximately 1,250 miles east-southeast of Hilo. Erick is expected to intensify and move into the Central Pacific Hurricane Center area of responsibility as a hurricane by Monday evening.

5 AM HST, Monday, July 29, 2019

Tropical Storm Erick Advisory Number 9

ERICK IS EXPECTED BECOME A HURRICANE ANY TIME SOON

Tropical Storm Erick was roughly 1,310 miles ESE of Hilo as of 5 a.m. Monday, July 29, 2019.

Erick is expected to become a hurricane Monday.

There are no coastal watches or warning in effect.

At 5 a.m. HST, the center of Tropical Storm Erick was located near latitude 12.3°N, longitude 136.9°W. Erick is moving toward the west near 17 mph. A turn to the west-northwest and a slower forward speed is expected to start on Tuesday and continue through Wednesday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph, with higher gusts. Erick is expected to become a hurricane any time soon and then potentially a major hurricane by Tuesday. A weakening trend is forecast to begin by later in the week.

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

The estimated minimum central pressure is 29.27 inches.