Heading Toward Hawaii: Tropical Storm Flossie

This animation captured by a GOES weather satellite, shows water vapor associated with Tropical Storm Flossie as it swirled in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, July 26. (Animation: NOAA.) | See updates below | Tropical Storm Flossie, which is churning toward the west in the Pacific Ocean toward the Hawaiian Islands, has strengthened a bit, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. | 7/27/13 Update: Since I posted this last night, the storm has been weakening a bit due to wind shear, drier air, and cooler sea surface temperatures. But it still poses a potential threat to Hawaii. As of 2 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time today, Flossie's maximum sustained wind speed was 60 miles per hour. | 7/27/13 Update: Now down to 50 mph. What impact she may have, if any, on Hawaii is still unclear. Here's what the latest NOAA public advisory has to say: