Kaua‘i under weather advisories as Hurricane Hone passes by

Tropical Storm Hone has become a hurricane, officials with the National Hurricane Center announced late Saturday night.

The center of Hurricane Hone is being tracked by the South Hawai‘i WSR-88D radar as it continues tracking westward, passing just south of South Point. Hone is now 115 miles south of Hilo with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph with higher gusts.

Hone is moving toward the west near 12 mph, and this motion is expected to continue into Monday, with slight slowing expected thereafter.

Little change in strength is expected tonight into early Sunday, followed by a gradual weakening trend Sunday afternoon onward.

Several weather advisories are in place as a result of the hurricane churning toward the Garden Isle.

A high surf advisory is in effect for east-facing shores till 6 p.m. Sunday.

According to the National Weather Service in Honolulu, large and disorganized short and medium-period swells associated with Hone will likely peak this evening and then steadily fade late tonight. Dangerous surf is expected along east- and southeast-facing shores of the Big Island during this time.

With the trade winds strengthening over the smaller islands tonight into Sunday, surf along east-facing shores should steadily increase tonight and peak on Sunday at advisory thresholds. Surf is expected to rise to 7 to 10 feet later tonight.

Strong breaking waves and strong currents will make swimming dangerous.

A wind advisory remains in effect till 6 a.m. Monday.

Northeast winds 20 to 35 mph with localized gusts over 55 mph are expected.

Winds this strong can tear off shingles, knock down tree branches, blow away tents and awnings and make it difficult to steer, especially for drivers of high profile vehicles.