Tropical Storm Lowell Holds Steady on Westward Track, Could Become Hurricane by Monday
If you're cruising or sailing near the Eastern Pacific south of Hawaii, note that Lowell was near 13.2N, 139.1W as of Saturday 11 PM HST, moving west at 10 mph with 50 mph winds. No coastal watches or warnings are currently in effect. Check the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's advisories starting 5 AM HST for updates, since NHC's public bulletins on this system have ended.
My read: at 50 mph and 1,150 miles southeast of Hilo, Lowell isn't an immediate land threat — hazards affecting land are listed as none, and there are no watches or warnings posted. The number that matters is the forecast for gradual strengthening into a hurricane by Monday or Monday night, which is a meaningful jump in a short window. This is also the last public advisory NHC will issue on this system; going forward, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center takes over with public advisories beginning at 5 AM HST. If I were cruising the Eastern Pacific this week, I'd bookmark the CPHC feed rather than the NHC one, since that's where the next update lands. It's a housekeeping shift as much as a weather one, but worth tracking given the strengthening trend.