HONOLULU, Aug. 30 (UPI) — Two Category 4 storms, Hurricanes Igniacio and Jimena, have been located east of Hawaii headed in a northeasterly direction, while a third, Kilo, was spotted to the west of the islands, according to reports.
The Weather Channel reports Ignacio was located 420 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii, early Sunday and is expected to weaken as it passes north of the island chain Monday into Tuesday.
Following behind is Jimena, located Sunday at the same time as Ignacio, 1,725 miles east of Hilo and moving 14 mph west-northwest. Hurricane Jimena is also expected to lessen in intensity as it passes north of the islands over the next few days.
A third storm, Hurricane Kilo, was reported southwest of Hawaii late Saturday into Sunday — marking the first time three Category 4 hurricanes have been recorded at the same time in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, according to Eric Blake, a specialist at the National Hurricane Center.
Category 4 hurricanes make up the second highest category on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, with maximum sustained winds of 130-156 miles per hour, the Weather Channel reports.
The Central Pacific Hurricane Center has issued a tropical storm watch for the Big Island and Maui County.
