FELICIA 235 MILES ENE OF HILO, WINDS 45 MPH: 2 P.M. 8/10/09

(Updated @ 2 p.m. Monday August 10, 2009)

TROPICAL STORM FELICIA ADVISORY NUMBER 29A

Tropical storm Felicia continues moving westward toward the Hawaiian Islands.

(Click to enlarge image. Satellite imagery updated at 1:06 p.m. by NOAA, NWS & The National Hurricance Center)

A tropical storm watch remains in effect for Oahu and for all of Maui County, including 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 2:00 p.m. HST, the center of tropical storm Felicia was located about 235 miles east-northeast of Hilo, Hawaii and about 400 miles East of Honolulu, Hawaii (near latitude 21.0 north, and longitude 151.6 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.

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.  Estimated minimum central pressure 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 later 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 2:00 P.M. HST INFORMATION:

Location…21.0n 151.6w

Maximum sustained winds…45 mph

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

The next advisory will be issued by the central pacific hurricane center 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)