Tropical Storm Pena begins passing well south of Hawaii

Tropical Storm Pena has started its pass far south of Hawaii, bringing gusty tradewinds to the islands as it continues moving west.

Forecasters at the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said they no longer expect Pena to grow into a hurricane early this week as strong wind shear continues to take its toll on the system.

As of 5 a.m. today, Pena had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and was centered 510 miles south of South Point, moving west at 8 mph. The westward movement is expected to continue over the next few days, CPHC forecasters said. Tropical storm-force winds extend up to 35 miles from Pena’s center.

By Thursday, Pena is expected to be far southwest of Hawaii with sustained winds of 50 mph as it continues to move away from the state.

Hawaii is being protected by a ridge of high pressure to the north of the state that is keeping Pena safely to the south.

National Weather Service forecasters expect the combination of the high-pressure ridge and Pena will bring a breezy and gusty tradewind pattern over the state today. Tradewinds will ease during the first half of the week before picking back up during the second half of the week, they said.

“Pockets of moisture riding in on the trades will focus showers over the windward and mauka areas through midweek. A band of moisture may move through the state from the north during the second half of week,” NWS forecasters said.