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:
THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT. INTERESTS IN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS SHOULD MONITOR FLOSSIE THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
| 7/27/13 Update: The National Weather Service in Honolulu is now saying that very heavy rains and flash flooding are possible in Hawaii on Monday and Tuesday. Here's how the forecast for Flossie's winds are shaping up:
| 7/27/13 Update: Click here
for the latest map of wind speed probabilities.
