Category 2 Hurricane Fausto strengthens far from Hawaii

Hurricane Fausto strengthened into a Category 2 storm today while continuing west across the East Pacific, prompting forecasters to urge Hawaii residents to monitor its progress even as the system is expected to weaken before reaching the islands next week.

At 5 a.m., Fausto was centered about 1,560 miles east of Hilo with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph and was moving west near 16 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

The NHC said gradual weakening is expected during the next several days, but Hawaii residents should continue monitoring the hurricane’s progress.

Current forecasts call for Fausto to cross into the Central Pacific this weekend before weakening to a tropical storm or possibly a remnant low as it approaches Hawaii early to mid next week.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu said the latest forecast continues to show Tropical Storm Fausto, or its remnants, skirting north across the western half of the main Hawaiian islands in the middle of next week.

Forecasters cautioned that uncertainty remains over the storm’s eventual strength and track.

“The risk of some impacts from wind and rainfall is increasing,” the National Hurricane Center said Thursday night. “However, it is too soon to determine the exact location or magnitude of these impacts.”

Honolulu forecasters said Fausto is expected to weaken as it encounters cooler sea surface temperatures, stronger wind shear and drier air before reaching the Central Pacific.

While uncertainty remains regarding wind and rainfall, confidence is increasing that Fausto will generate large east shore surf beginning late Saturday.

The National Weather Service said long-period swell from Fausto is expected to produce advisory-level surf along east-facing shores Sunday or Monday, with the largest waves expected Tuesday or Wednesday depending on the storm’s eventual track.

In the meantime, a separate long-period south-southwest swell continues to produce hazardous surf along south-facing shores.

A high surf advisory remains in effect through 6 p.m. today for south-facing shores statewide, where surf of 8 to 12 feet is expected this morning before lowering to 7 to 10 feet this afternoon. Forecasters said another pulse of south swell this weekend could require the advisory to be extended.

Strong breaking waves and dangerous currents will make swimming hazardous along south shores, the weather service said.

Breezy to strong tradewinds also continue across the state.

A small craft advisory remains in effect through 6 p.m. today for most Hawaiian waters due to east winds of 15 to 25 knots. The advisory has been extended through 6 a.m. Sunday for typically windier waters around Maui County and Hawaii island, where winds of 25 to 30 knots are expected.

Away from Fausto, Hawaii’s weather is expected to remain relatively typical through the weekend, with breezy to locally windy trades carrying scattered showers into windward and mauka areas while leeward communities remain mostly dry.

High temperatures are forecast to reach the mid-80s to lower 90s statewide.