"'an area where atmospheric conditions are conductive to strengthening.'"
"'After that time, cooler (sea-surface temperatures) and an increase in southwesterly vertical wind shear should lead to a faster rate of weakening,'"
"'If Kiko continues toward Hawaii, even as a less intense tropical storm, it could bring significant wind and rain to the islands next week,'"
Hurricane Kiko strengthened to a Category 4 storm with sustained winds near 145 mph and is moving west toward the central Pacific. The system could intensify to Category 5 after entering an area with favorable atmospheric conditions. Kiko rapidly strengthened from Category 2 to Category 3 on September 2 and is now about 1,600 miles east of the Big Island, moving west at 9 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend up to 25 miles from the eye and tropical-storm-force winds up to 80 miles. Warm waters and light vertical wind shear may persist for several days, but cooler sea-surface temperatures and increasing southwesterly shear should then accelerate weakening to around Category 1 as it approaches Hawaii, where significant wind and rain remain possible even if the storm is less intense.
Read at Mail Online
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