Hurricane Kiko Weakens to Tropical Storm but Poses Dangerous Surf, Rip Current Threat to Hawaii

HONOLULU — Hurricane Kiko weakened into a tropical storm on Tuesday but still posed a threat of life-threatening surf and rip currents for Hawaiian shores, forecasters said.

With maximum sustained winds near 60 mph (97 kph), Kiko was centered about 245 miles (394 kilometers) northeast of Hilo and roughly 375 miles (604 kilometers) east of Honolulu, moving west-northwest at 14 mph (23 kph). The National Hurricane Center said the storm was forecast to pass to the north of the Hawaiian Islands on Tuesday and Wednesday as it continued to weaken.

Forecasters said the threat of direct impacts to the islands had decreased and that there were no coastal watches or warnings in effect, but they cautioned that dangerous surf and strong rip currents could still create life-threatening conditions along beaches and shorelines. Waves were forecast to peak early Tuesday through Wednesday, the hurricane center said.

Local officials urged residents and visitors to monitor the storm's progress and heed guidance from local emergency management and weather officials in case conditions change. The center emphasized that even when a storm remains offshore, it can produce large swells and hazardous surf that affect coastal communities.

Kiko's weakening follows a track that had carried the storm across open waters of the central Pacific. Forecasters will continue to issue advisories as the system progresses and further weakens. Authorities reminded the public to stay informed through official channels and to avoid entering the ocean while hazardous surf and rip current conditions persist.