Hurricane Olaf weakening and turning west northwest

Hurricane Olaf is moving to the northwest towards Hawaii but is forecast to turn toward the north-northwest tonight.

Maximum sustained winds are near 115 miles per hour (185 kph).

A High Surf Warning continues for east facing shores of the Big Island, as Hurricane Olaf churns the Pacific Ocean 720 miles southeast of Hilo.

Hurricane Olaf is not expected to change in intensity Thursday, but will gradually weaken overnight and into Friday. As a result, the National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a High Surf Warning for east-facing shores of the Big Island, and a High Surf Advisory for east-facing shores of Maui.

A small craft advisory is in effect until 6 p.m. Sunday (Oct 25) for Hawaii Island leeward, southeast and windward waters. In the briefing, weather service officials said that Olaf is expected to turn north and begin moving northeast over the weekend. Wave heights of 12 to 18 feet are forecast. Wave heights of 5 to 8 feet are expected along the Kona Coast.

Olaf is the 15th tropical cyclone in the Central Pacific in 2015, far surpassing the previous record of 11 in 1992 and 1994.

The hurricane center said Patricia was expected to bring heavy rain to the states of Jalisco, Colima, Michoacan and Guerrero. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 30 miles (45 km) from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 155 miles (250 km).

The RapidScat instrument aboard the global Space Station analyzed Hurricane Olaf's winds in the Central Pacific Ocean. Rapid weakening is then forecast as the storm moves inland. With about six weeks remaining in the hurricane season, forecasters urge Hawaii residents to remain vigilant and prepared.

A tropical storm warning was declared from Punta San Telmo east to Lazaro Cardenas. It has just a 20 percent chance of developing into a tropical depression within five days.