Hurricane Guillermo was downgraded to a tropical storm Monday as it continued its course toward the Hawaiian Islands, according to AP. According to the NOAA's Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu, Guillermo was about 565 miles (910 km) away from Hilo, Hawaii, on Monday morning. Its track is expected to take it near or over the islands on Wednesday and Thursday. The storm, currently moving northwest at about 12 mph (19 kmh), is expected to steadily weaken over the next couple of days. National Weather Service meteorologist Matthew Foster said the storm was downgraded because it is entering a weather environment that is not favorable for tropical cyclones. The exact track of the storm will dictate which islands are impacted most. Dangerous surf, significant rainfall and high winds are expected, and forecasters warn of the chance of coastal and flash flooding. Tom Evans, the acting director of the NOAA's Central Pacific Hurricane Center, said the prediction was based largely on current El Nino conditions in the region. El Nino is the warming of the water on the surface of the ocean along the equator, he said, and there are more hurricanes on average during El Nino years. In 2014, the region saw five hurricanes, which falls within the average of four to five storms per year. The last hurricane to directly hit Hawaii was Iniki in 1992. In 2014, Hurricane Iselle approached the island chain but weakened to a tropical storm just before making landfall. Guillermo currently has maximum sustained winds near 65 mph (100 kmh). There are no coastal warnings or watches currently in effect, but forecasters say some may be issued for certain portions of the state later Monday.
