Overview

• Kiko is carrying sustained winds near 110 mph and moving west about 1,665 miles east of Hilo, according to the National Hurricane Center.
• Ensemble track models increasingly cluster toward a close approach to Hawaii’s Big Island around September 8–9, though landfall and timing remain uncertain.
• Forecasters expect Kiko to reach major-hurricane strength and enter the Central Pacific this weekend, with some guidance suggesting brief Category 4 intensity.
• Sea-surface temperatures in the mid-70s°F and anticipated wind shear near Hawaii are expected to erode the storm’s strength as it approaches.
• No watches or warnings are in effect for Hawaii, and officials advise monitoring forecasts as potential heavy rain on the island’s east side and building easterly swells are flagged for early next week.