Pacific Weather: Tropical Storm Pena bypasses Hawaii
A high-pressure ridge is steering the system far south of the islands, limiting local impacts to gusty winds and midweek showers.
By Aiko Nakamura ·
Tropical Storm Pena is tracking far south of Hawaii, keeping the islands on the periphery of the system. As of 5 a.m. on November 8, the storm was centered 510 miles south of South Point. It moved west at 8 mph with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph.
Forecasters at the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said strong wind shear is preventing Pena from intensifying into a hurricane early this week. Tropical storm-force winds extend 35 miles from the center. The system will continue moving west for the next few days.
A ridge of high pressure to the north is steering the storm south. By Thursday, Pena is expected to be far southwest of Hawaii with sustained winds of 50 mph. The storm is moving away from the state as the week progresses.
National Weather Service forecasters expect the high-pressure ridge and the storm to create a breezy tradewind pattern today. Winds will ease during the first half of the week before picking up again in the second half.
Moisture riding on the tradewinds will focus showers over windward and mauka areas through midweek. A band of moisture may also move through the state from the north later in the week.
