Update #6: Hurricane Kiko re-intensifies as it continues toward Hawaiian Islands

Update #6, 11 a.m. Sept. 5: Kiko quickly re-intensified into a Category 4 hurricane as it continues its approach to the Hawaiian Islands.

As of 11 a.m., Kiko was 1,195 miles east-southeast of Hilo and 1,400 miles east-southeast of Honolulu with maximum sustained winds at 130 mph, according to a public advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Additional strengthening is expected this afternoon and tonight before slow weakening begins on Saturday.

Kiko is moving toward the west-northwest near 10 mph and this motion is expected to continue over the next few days. On the forecast track, Kiko is expected to move into the central Pacific basin by tomorrow morning.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles.

While there are no coastal watches or warnings currently in effect, swells generated by Hurricane Kiko could begin reaching the Hawaiian Islands toward the end of this weekend. These swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip currents.

This general west-northwestward motion, along with a gradual increase in forward speed, is forecast into early next week, as Kiko moves along the southwest periphery of this subtropical ridge and toward the upper-level low to the north and northwest of the Hawaiian Islands.

Update #5, 5 a.m. Sept. 5: Hurricane Kiko remains a Category 3 hurricane as it heads in the direction of the Hawaiian Islands.

As of 5 a.m. on Friday, it was about 1,245 miles south-southeast of Hilo.

While there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect now, the National Hurricane Center said people in the Hawaiian Islands should monitor the progress of Kiko.

Swells generated by Kiko could begin reaching the Hawaiian Islands towards the end of this weekend. These swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip currents, the National Hurricane Center said.

Kiko is moving west-northwest at nearly 9 mph and is expected to continue in this direction through the weekend with a slight increase in speed.

Kiko now has maximum sustained winds near 115 mph with higher gusts. Fluctuations in intensity are expected during the next 48 hours followed by weakening by early next week.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center, with tropical storm-force winds extending outward up to 70 miles.

Update #4, 5 p.m. Sept. 4: Hurricane Kiko weakens to a Category 3 storm as it continues west toward Hawaiʻi at 5 p.m. Thursday.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Kiko is moving near 9 mph with a gradual turn west-northwest expected tonight and Friday. This motion is forecast to continue through the weekend with a slight increase in forward speed.

Maximum sustained winds has decreased and are near 125 mph and Kiko has been downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

According to forecasters, some strengthening is possible tonight and Friday, followed by slow weakening Friday night through the weekend.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles.

Swells generated by Hurricane Kiko could begin reaching the Hawaiian Islands towards the end of this weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center.

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect at this time.

Update #3, 5 a.m., Sept. 4: Hurricane Kiko moved to about 1,470 miles east-southeast of Hilo as of 5 a.m. on Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

While Kiko is a little weaker, it remains a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale with maximum sustained winds near 130 mph and with higher gusts.

Forecasters said Kiko also could re-intensify as it continues westward well to the east-southeast of the Hawaiian Island.

Kiko currently is moving west at about 9 mph. This motion is expected to continue through Thursday night. On Friday, Kiko is expected to turn west-northwest and maintain this direction for the following few days.

Under the current forecast, Kiko would not begin to impact the Big Island until early Tuesday.

Fluctuations in intensity are expected in the next two to three days.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles.

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect at this time.

UPDATE, 11 a.m., Sept. 3: Hurricane Kiko is now a Category 4 storm.

Currently, it is 1,600 miles east of Hilo with winds of 130 miles per hour. 

Kiko is moving west at 9 miles per hour, and this movement is expected to continue for the next few days with a gradual shift toward the west-northwest at a slightly increased speed.

Some additional strengthening is possible over the next day or two, followed by fluctuations in intensity, the advisory indicates.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles.

Original post: Hurricane Kiko is expected to become a major hurricane later today, but it is now well east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands, according to the National Hurricane Center.

As of the 5 a.m. weather advisory, Kiko was about 1,665 miles east of Hilo, traveling west at 7 mph.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 110 mph, with higher gusts. Some additional strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles.

Kiko is expected to speed up slightly to 8 mph, heading west. This motion is expected to continue for the next few days with a gradual shift towards the west-northwest.

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.