Pacific system near Hawaii forecast to strengthen into tropical storm
Tropical Storm Cristobal formed Wednesday in the Atlantic Ocean well west of the Azores, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm was located about 880 miles (1,416 kilometers) west of the Azores with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (72 kph) and was moving east.
Forecasters placed no coastal watches or warnings in effect for Cristobal, and the storm was forecast to dissipate on Thursday.
In the Pacific, the hurricane center initiated advisories on Potential Tropical Cyclone One-C, which was located about 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometers) east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands and packed maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (56 kph).
The system was moving west and was expected to strengthen into a tropical storm before nearing the Hawaiian Islands by late Friday, the NHC said. A hurricane watch or tropical storm watch would likely be needed for the islands by early Thursday, forecasters said.
The system could bring rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches (13 to 25 centimeters) across the island chain, with up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) possible, forecasters said. That rainfall could produce flooding and mudslides, the NHC said.
The Hawaii advisory came about two weeks after Tropical Storm Fausto passed north of the island chain in late July after weakening from hurricane strength, bringing significant surf to east-facing shores, according to the National Hurricane Center.