Hurricane Dora intensifies as it continues on trek expected to take it south of the Hawaiʻi

Hurricane Dora intensified to a major Category 4 storm again Thursday afternoon and the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla., says it is expected to remain a hurricane for awhile as it traverses the Eastern and Central Pacific basins.

As of 5 p.m. Thursday, Dora was 1,070 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, or 2,130 miles east-southeast of Hilo, traveling west at about 18 mph and was continued to do so for the next several days. The storm also is still supposed to pass south of the state.

Dora now has maximum sustained winds of about 140 mph, with some weakening forecast during the next day or so. The storm is expected to be near or at major hurricane status through much of the weekend.

Hurricane force winds extend out from the storm’s center up to 15 miles and tropical storm force winds extend up to 45 miles out.

“Breezy easterly trade winds will trend down tonight and Friday and will remain at moderate strength through the weekend,” said the Hawaiʻi area synopsis from the National Weather Service forecast office in Honolulu just before 4 p.m. Thursday. “Shower coverage will remain limited through Friday, with the best rainfall chances over windward areas at night through early morning. An upper-level disturbance moving near the islands this weekend will bring a modest increase in shower activity. Trades will ramp up early next week, and windy, very gusty and dry conditions are possible late Monday into Wednesday.”