Fernanda Strengthens to Category 4 Hurricane
Hurricane Fernanda in the Eastern Pacific continued to strengthen and as of Friday afternoon was classified as a Category 4 system with sustained winds of 130 mph.
The system was located about 2,300 miles E of Hilo (1,060 miles SW of the southern tip of Baja California) and was moving west at 12 mph.
Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center say Fernanda some additional strengthening is expected over the next day or so, before the system begins weakening early next week as it takes a turn to the NW and approaches the Central Pacific.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Fernanda is still expected to move generally westward for the next day or so, before turning toward the west-northwest due to a weakening of the ridge to the north.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles.
The agency notes that it’s still far too early to say if the system will have an impact on the Hawaiian Islands.
Earlier this summer, the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency increased its recommendation from 7 to 14 days worth of provisions in emergency kits based on the documented experience from other states and jurisdictions that have gone through similar disasters.
Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have forecast 5 to 8 tropical cyclones affecting the Central Pacific this hurricane season, which runs through the end of November.