Weakening Kiko still a major hurricane but expected to pass north of Hawaii

Kiko weakened slightly Saturday morning but remains a major hurricane far from Hawaii in the Central Pacific, and forecasters expect it to significantly decrease in strength in three to four days as it passes north of the islands.

At 11 a.m., Kiko had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph, moving west-northwest at 12 mph, and was centered 935 miles east-southeast of Hilo and 1,135 east-southeast of Honolulu, according to Central Pacific Hurricane Center forecasters. Kiko’s hurricane-force winds extend up to 25 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds up to 80 miles outward, they said.

“Tropical Cyclone Kiko will be approaching Hawaii from the southeast. Kiko’s current forecast track is north of the islands across the far northern offshore waters,” the National Hurricane Center s