Category 3 Hurricane Neki continues to thrive in the central Pacific Oceanseveral hundred miles west-southwest of the Hawaiian Islands. As of earlyThursday, Neki was located about 550 miles west of Honolulu, Hawaii, withmaximum sustained winds near 120 mph.Neki should maintain its Category 3 status as it churns over very warm oceanwaters and encounters an area of light wind shear.
Neki is expected to continue on a general northerly path over the next coupleof days, which will keep it well away from the Hawaiian Islands. The storm isexpected to pass between French Frigate Shoals and Maro Reef around Fridaymorning, local time.
Category 4 and 5 hurricanes are somewhat rare in the central Pacific Basin, butthey can occur if the atmospheric conditions are perfect. The last Category 4storm to develop over the central Pacific occurred back in September 1992 whenHurricane Iniki had sustained winds of 144 mph. The last Category 5 hurricanewas Ioke in August 2006 with sustained winds of 161 mph.
Story by AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Brian Edwards.
