First Alert: Tropical Storm Kiko forms in Eastern Pacific

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Tropical Storm Kiko has formed far to the east of Hawaii with a forecast track that could take it just south of the islands.

The National Hurricane Center said in data valid at 11 a.m. Sunday, Kiko was located about 1,090 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California and was moving to the west at 9 miles per hour.

Kiko had maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour with higher gusts. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center.

Forecasters said Kiko is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Tuesday. It is forecast to cross into the Central Pacific sometime late Thursday or Friday.

The National Hurricane Center said the tropical storm is currently moving over an area with warm sea surface temperatures, moist tropical air and little wind shear as a high pressure ridge keeps it moving generally westward over the next five days.

Current forecast models are bringing Kiko close to the islands, but it’s too soon to tell exactly where it will go and the forecast track can and will change.

If Kiko moves slightly just to the right of its current forecast track, it could come closer to Hawaii, but it will also move over cooler waters that will slow down or inhibit strengthening.

Your First Alert Weather Team will continue to closely watch this system over the next several days.

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