Hurricane Kiko is weakening but remains a hurricane in the central Pacific Ocean and could bring potentially life-threatening surf to Hawaii early this week.
Kiko was downgraded from a Category 3 to a Category 2 storm Sunday evening. It was 555 miles east of Hilo, with 105 mph maximum sustained winds, according to an 11 p.m. ET update from the National Hurricane Center. It was moving northwest at 14 mph.
Kiko had intensified into a Category 1 hurricane in the eastern Pacific last week. Over the past few days, it strengthened into Category 4 before it weakened again.
Kiko is expected to further weaken over the next few days, the center said. It is expected to become a tropical storm by late Monday as it steers north of Hawaii. While a direct hit is not forecast, some rain, gusty winds and rough surf will affect the islands through the first half of the week.
Swells generated by Kiko “will gradually build and are forecast to peak along east-facing exposures of the Hawaiian Islands late Monday through midweek, potentially producing life-threatening surf and rip currents,” the center said.
Kiko’s center is expected pass north of the main Hawaiian Islands on Tuesday and Wednesday.
While no hurricane watches or warnings are in effect, the hurricane center advises the Hawaiian Islands to continue monitoring Kiko’s progress.
Mirna Alsharif
Mirna Alsharif is a breaking news reporter for NBC News.
Christine Rapp
and
Marlene Lenthang
contributed
.