Hurricane Kiko has escalated to a Category 4 storm, with winds nearing 110 mph, as it heads west towards Hawaii. The storm's trajectory suggests that it will hit Hawaii's Big Island next week.
As of Wednesday morning, the hurricane was approximately 1,665 miles east of Hilo, moving at a speed of 7 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. By Wednesday afternoon, Kiko had reached Category 4 strength and is predicted to continue intensifying over the next couple of days.
However, forecasters have stated that it's too early to determine how, or if, Kiko will impact Hawaii. No coastal watches or warnings have been issued by weather agencies so far.
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The National Weather Service in Honolulu anticipates that the island state's weather pattern will remain stable throughout the weekend.
As Kiko nears Hawaii early next week, it could bring easterly swells to shores that reach advisory levels. A coastal flooding statement is in effect for all Hawaiian islands through Sunday afternoon due to peak monthly high tides and elevated water levels in low-lying areas, reports the Mirror US.
Residents are advised to avoid driving on flooded roads, secure boats, and move electronics and vehicles to higher ground. AccuWeather reports suggest that Kiko is likely to make landfall on Tuesday evening, September 9.
Kiko, the 11th named storm of the Pacific's 2025 season, which runs from 15 May to 30 November, is on its way. Earlier this year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted a quieter than usual hurricane season in the Pacific.
Spaghetti models, which amalgamate predictions from various weather programmes, have been used to forecast Kiko's potential paths over the coming days. If the lines are closely clustered together, it indicates a high probability of the storm following that path due to consensus among most models.
However, if the lines diverge significantly, the prediction becomes less certain.
The spaghetti model for Kiko's trajectory towards Hawaii shows the lines tightly packed along a route that could see the storm hitting the islands early next week.
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