National Weather Service

Hone was a hurricane at its peak but was back to a tropical storm on Monday with top sustained winds of 50mph. Tropical Storm Hector gained strength in the eastern Pacific, but no coastal watches or warnings were in effect as it was still far out at sea.

As Tropical Storm Hone makes its way around the island chain, it’s a good time to go over your emergency preparedness checklist. Here are some ways to ensure you are ready.

Tropical Storm Hone is expected to deliver strong winds and heavy rain to Hawaiʻi this weekend as it passes south of the island chain. It's expected to strengthen to a Category 1 hurricane for part of the time.

Forecasters say Tropical Storm Hone has formed in the central Pacific Ocean. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu says in an 11 a.m. advisory that the storm has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. The center of Hone could pass near or south of the Big Island this weekend.

Hawaiʻi could be in for a very dry summer and fall. La Niña conditions generally spell a hotter “dry season.” Meteorologist John Bravender stopped by the station Wednesday morning to talk about the weather and getting prepared for hurricane season.

Forecasters say this year's hurricane season for waters around Hawaiʻi will likely be "below normal" with one to four tropical cyclones across the central Pacific region. That estimate includes tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes.

Strong winds and dry conditions have prompted a red flag warning for leeward sides of all Hawaiian Islands until Tuesday evening. The warning is in place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

State and county agencies are asking residents to prepare for the upcoming dry season by reducing the risk of wildfires.

A large weather system working its way across the Hawaiian Islands left many without power throughout the night and has closed several schools on Oʻahu for Wednesday.

The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for all islands this past weekend and it’s stubbornly still sticking around. The strongest gusts were expected Wednesday on Hawaiʻi Island.