UPDATED 5:25 p.m.

Tropical Storm Lowell is moving west toward the Central Pacific and is expected to intensify into a hurricane by early next week.

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At about 5 p.m. today, Lowell had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and was 1,470 miles east-southeast of Hilo, moving west at 7 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Tropical storm-force winds of 39 mph or more extend up to 70 miles from the center.

“Gradual strengthening is expected to begin on Saturday, and Lowell could become a hurricane by Monday,” forecasters said.

The latest five-day forecast map has an intensifying Lowell in the Central Pacific as a hurricane by Monday and strengthening into a powerful Category 2 storm with 110 mph winds by Wednesday, when it is expected to be about 500 miles southeast of Hilo.

Farther east in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Karina was gaining strength off the coast of Mexico.

As of 5 p.m. today, Karina was 730 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, moving northwest — away from land — at 12 mph. Karina is forecast to continue gaining strength and peak Monday as a strong Category 3 hurricane with 125 mph maximum sustained winds, still far from land.

Forecasters says the large size and powerful strength of Karina could effect Lowell’s development.

While Lowell is expected to strengthen at a faster rate at the beginning of next week, “the intensity forecast becomes more uncertain later in the period due to Lowell’s potential interaction with Karina,” NHC forecasters said. “A faster westward track (for Lowell) would likely keep the cyclones sufficiently separated and allow Lowell to continue strengthening, while a slower solution could expose Lowell to stronger shear associated with outflow from Karina.”

UPDATED 12:30 p.m.

Tropical Storm Lowell in the East Pacific is beginning to make its expected turn west today and remains on track to be a hurricane as it enters the Central Pacific by Monday, forecasters said.

As of about 11 a.m. today, Lowell has maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and was 1,520 miles east-southeast of Hilo, moving northwest at 5 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Tropical storm-force winds extend up to 70 miles mainly to the west of the center.

“Little change in strength is expected through tonight,” NHC said late this morning. “However, strengthening is expected to begin on Saturday, and Lowell could become a hurricane by Sunday night or Monday.”

In the latest five-day forecast, Lowell will be a Category 2 hurricane with 110 mph maximum sustained winds hundreds of miles southeast of Hilo on Wednesday.

Farther east in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Karina was gaining strength off the coast of Mexico.

As of 11 a.m. today, Karina was 735 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, moving northwest — away from land — at 9 mph. Lowell is forecast to continue gaining strength and peak Monday as a strong Category 3 hurricane with 125 mph maximum sustained winds, still far from land.

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Forecasters says the large size and powerful strength of Karina could effect Lowell’s development.

“The intensity near the end of the (five-day) forecast period is dependent on how close Lowell is to Karina,” NHC forecasters said. “The current faster track forecast keeps the cyclones farther apart and thus Lowell is forecast to continue strengthening. However, if the slower track guidance is correct, Lowell could wind up in stronger shear and with a lower intensity due to proximity to Karina.”

PREVIOUSLY

The hyperactive 2026 hurricane season continues, with new tropical storms forming in the East Pacific on Thursday, one of which is currently forecast to be a hurricane several hundred miles southeast of Hawaii Island next week.

Tropical Storms Lowell and Karina were strengthening this morning, and both are expected to become hurricanes in the coming days. Karina, which is closer to Mexico, is forecast to become a major hurricane far from land by Sunday.

Of the two new storms, Lowell is of much higher concern for Hawaii.

As of this morning, Lowell had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and was 1,560 miles east-southeast of Hilo, moving north-northwest at 5 mph. Tropical storm-force winds extend up to 80 miles from the center, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Lowell is forecast to turn toward the west Saturday and continue in that direction into next week, according to the NHC.

“Steady strengthening” is expected during the next several days, with Lowell becoming a hurricane over the weekend, forecasters said. “It should be noted that some of the regional hurricane models suggest a faster rate of intensification is possible,” they said.

The current five-day forecast map has an intensifying Lowell entering the Central Pacific as a hurricane by Monday and strengthening into a powerful Category 2 storm with 110 mph winds by Wednesday, when it is expected to be about 600 miles southeast of Hilo.

Hawaii is still recovering from the devastation of Lala, which slowly passed within 30 miles of South Point on Aug. 15 as a Category 1 hurricane and then moved farther south of the smaller islands on Aug. 16.

President Donald Trump approved a federal disaster declaration for Hawaii on Wednesday to help the state recover from Lala’s destruction, especially in the Ka‘u District of the Big Island.

Lala has persisted as a tropical cyclone for about 15 days, traveling more than a couple thousand miles over the Pacific during that time, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center on Oahu. It was a post-tropical cyclone this morning about 680 miles north of Kure Atoll, with 40 mph winds, and was heading toward the western Pacific.

Tropical Storm Karina, meanwhile, had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph at 5 a.m. today and was centered 750 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, moving northwest at 10 mph.

Karina is also expected to strengthen into a hurricane this weekend and become a major Category 3 hurricane by Sunday night before weakening early next week. Karina, however, is moving away from land and is only bringing higher surf to Baja California, according to the NHC.

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