STORM WATCH CANCELLED FOR BIG ISLAND: FELICIA 270 MILES E OF HILO, WINDS 45 MPH: 11 A.M. 8/10/09

(Updated @ 11 a.m. Monday August 10, 2009)

TROPICAL STORM FELICIA ADVISORY NUMBER 29

(Click image to enlarge. Image updated at 9:55 a.m. by NOAA & The National Hurricane Center)

At 11:00 a.m. HST, the tropical storm watch for the big island has been discontinued, but the watch remains in effect for Oahu and all of Maui County, which includes the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case within the next 36 hours.

At 11:00 a.m. HST, the center of tropical storm Felicia was located about 270 miles east-northeast of Hilo, Hawaii, and about 440 miles east of Honolulu, Hawaii (near latitude 20.9 north…longitude 151.1 west).

Felicia is moving toward the west near 12 mph and this motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days. The center of Felicia is expected to reach the Hawaiian Islands on Tuesday.

Data from an air force reconnaissance aircraft indicates that maximum sustained winds remain near 45 mph with higher gusts.   Weakening is forecast during the next couple of days. Felicia is expected to reach the main Hawaiian Islands as either a tropical depression, or possibly a tropical storm if the expected weakening does not occur. In either case, the strongest winds are expected to be north of the circulation center and occur mostly over waters north of the islands.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles north of the center.

Minimum central pressure measured by air force reconnaissance is 1007 MB or 29.74 inches.

A large swell generated by Felicia is already affecting the main Hawaiian Islands. This swell will continue to build across the state today and tonight. Also, regardless of the intensity of Felicia when it reaches the Hawaiian Islands, locally heavy rainfall is still expected to occur and flash flooding remains a possibility.

SUMMARY OF 11:00 AM HST INFORMATION:

Location…20.9n 151.1w

Maximum sustained winds…45 mph

Present movement…west or 270 degrees at 12 mph minimum central pressure…1007 MB

An intermediate advisory will be issued by the central pacific hurricane center at 2:00 pm HST followed by the next complete advisory at 5:00 pm HST.

(Updated @ 11 a.m. Monday August 10, 2009 by Wendy Osher; Information provided by FORECASTER BURKE/KNABB with the NWS Central Pacific Hurricane Center)