Tropical Storm Hone Threatens Hawaii: Dangerous Surf & Flooding Expected!

Tropical storm watches were in effect across the Big Island of Hawaii on Friday as officials monitored Tropical Storm Hone, which is expected to produce dangerous surf conditions and possible flooding as it nears the state over the weekend.

Hone is one of three storms in the central and eastern Pacific basins – including Hurricane Gilma, a Category 3 storm, and a third developing system to the east – churning in the general direction of the Hawaiian islands. Tropical Storm Hone is the closest to Hawaii and currently has the greatest chance of lashing the state with treacherous weather conditions.

Hone became the first named storm in the 2024 central Pacific hurricane season on Thursday after several storms merged and organized in the open ocean. As of Friday afternoon, the storm was located 520 miles east-southeast of Hilo and 730 miles east-southeast of Honolulu, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

Moving at 16 mph, the storm has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph that extend out 115 miles from its center. Tropical Storm Hone, which is expected to continue intensifying over the next few days, is forecast to pass south of Hawaii's Big Island Saturday night into Sunday.

As the storm passes Hawaii, warmer ocean waters and low wind shear "could allow Hone to reach hurricane strength," according to the National Weather Service.