TROPICAL STORM WATCH ISSUED: FELICIA 760 MILES EAST OF HILO, WINDS 85 MPH

HURRICANE FELICIA FORECAST/ADVISORY NUMBER 22

(Updated @ 5 p.m. Sat Aug 8, 2009 by Wendy Osher)

At 5 p.m. HST, a Tropica Storm Watch was issued for the Big Island of Hawaii and for all of Maui County, which includes the islands of Maui, Kahoolawe, Lanai and Molokai.

(Click to Enlarge image. Satellite Image updated at 5 p.m. HST, Sat. August 8, 2009. Image Courtesy NOAA & The National Hurricane Center)

A Tropical Storm Watch Means that Tropical Storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within the next 48 hours.

The system was located at 760 miles East of Hilo Hawaii and about 940 miles east of Honolulu Hawaii at about 5 p.m. Saturday, August 8, 2009. Felicia is moving toward the west near 15 mph and this general motion is expected to be near or over the Hawaiian islands by Monday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph with higher gusts. Felicia is a category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. Slow weakening is forecast during the next couple of days, and Felicia could become a Tropical Storm within the next 24 hours.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center of the storm,, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 115 miles.

Estimated minimum Central Pressure based on recent air reconnaissance data is 982MB or 29.00 inches.

Interests in the remainder of the state of Hawaii, including the islands of Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau, should closely monitor the progress of Felicia. A Tropical Storm watch should be required for these areas later tonight.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center says there is about a 60 percent chance of Felicia becoming a Tropical Storm in 48 hours when it is very near the Hawaiian Islands, with about a 25 percent chance of it being a Tropical Depression, and a 10 percent chance of it being a Hurricane.

Hurricanes have winds of 74 mph or higher; Tropical Storms have winds of between 39 and 73 mph; and Tropical Depressions have winds of less than 39 mph.

Heavy rain, tornadoes and waterspouts are known to accompany tropical cyclones.

(Updated at 5 p.m. HST Sat August 8, 2009 by Wendy Osher. Information courtesy forecaster KNABB/R and BALLARD with the Pacific Disaster Center)