Hurricane Kiko Could Deliver Impacts to the Hawaiian Islands

The Eastern Pacific has seen a surge in tropical activity over the last few days, with two named features now roaming this corner of the world's oceans. Here is the latest update on Hurricane Kiko and Hurricane Lorena, as well as whether the U.S. and Mexico should expect to see any impacts from these developing features.

Latest Update on Hurricane Kiko

What was once Tropical Storm Kiko is now Category 4 Hurricane Kiko. Hurricane Kiko has rapidly intensified into a powerful Category 4 storm, now packing sustained winds of about 145 mph in the Eastern Pacific. As of the latest advisory, the storm is positioned roughly 1,560 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii, and is moving west at about 9 mph.

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center note that while Kiko poses no immediate threat to land and no coastal watches or warnings are currently in effect, the system is likely to maintain its strength in the near term. Conditions in the Pacific are favorable for additional intensification, though some fluctuations are expected before Kiko begins to gradually weaken later this week.

Even if Kiko remains far offshore, residents and visitors in Hawaii are being advised to stay alert. The storm’s expansive wind field is expected to generate rough surf and potentially dangerous swells as it drifts westward. These impacts could reach the islands by early next week, depending on how close the system’s path takes it to the archipelago.