Hurricane Kiko Strengthens Into Category 4

Hurricane Kiko strengthened into a Category 4 storm late Wednesday (September 3) night, according to an advisory from the National Hurricane Center via USA TODAY .

Kiko was reported to be centered 1,560 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii , at 11:00 p.m. ET, with maximum sustained winds near 145 MPH with higher gusts, though forecasters said little additional strengthening was expected. The hurricane is expected to continue moving westward on Thursday (September 4) before turning toward the west-northwest.

Hurricane-force winds were reported to extend outward up to 25 miles from where the storm is centered, with tropical storm-force winds extending outward at up to 80 miles, though the center is projecting no impacts to land over the next few days, despite remaining a hurricane through