Update: Felicia Rapidly Weakens to Tropical Storm, Guillermo to Become Depression

Felicia is rapidly weakening as it heads toward the Central Pacific. The system went from a Category 5 hurricane yesterday to a Category 1 hurricane over a 24 hour period. For the 11 a.m. HST forecast, the National Hurricane Center said the system is being downgraded to a Tropical Storm.

The system now has maximum sustained winds near 65 mph, with continued rapid weakening forecast.  The National Hurricane Center says the cyclone is expected to become a remnant low in a few days.  It was last located about 1,445 miles East of Hilo, Hawaiʻi.  

Forecasters are also tracking Tropical Storm Guillermo, which is also under a weakening trend and expected to become a depression soon.  Guillermo is located in the Eastern Pacific and is moving west near 15 mph.  

Earlier this year, NOAA predicted a near-or below-normal 2021 Central Pacific hurricane season with 2-5 Tropical Cyclones. The annual Season Outlook, calls for an 80% chance of a near- or below-normal season. Agency officials say this is a prediction, NOT a forecast of hurricane landfalls. A near-normal season has 4 or 5 tropical cyclones.