TRACKING KRISTY | Kristy becomes a hurricane and is rapidly intensifying | Local

HONOLULU (Island News) — Recent satellite and ASCAT data show that Hurricane Kristy has significantly strengthened over the last six hours. Satellite images indicate the formation of a potential eye, with strong winds reaching about 61 mph. Intensity estimates are around 75 mph, confirming Kristy is now a hurricane.

Kristy is moving west at about 18 mph, influenced by a subtropical ridge. This westward motion is expected to continue for a couple of days before the storm begins moving north due to a mid-level trough. There’s some uncertainty about this later movement due to differences in weather models.

The intensity forecast is optimistic, predicting rapid strengthening in the next 12-24 hours, with a possibility of reaching 115 mph in 24 hours and peaking at 132 mph in 60 hours. After that, conditions are expected to become less favorable, likely leading to weakening and Kristy potentially becoming post-tropical in about 120 hours.