Flossie Fades Away

HONOLULU -- A day after teasing the Big Island of Hawaii with high surf and gusty winds, tropical storm Flossie is weakening to the south of Hawaii.

The National Weather Service cancelled the tropical storm warning and a flood watch for the Big Island at 5 a.m. Wednesday. Forecasters also cancelled a high surf advisory for the south and east shores of all islands.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center said as of 11 a.m. Wednesday, the center of Flossie was located at latitude 17.3 north, longitude 158.5 west, or about 280 miles south of Honolulu. The center of the storm made its closest approach to the Big Island's South Point around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Flossie was moving west at 12 mph.

According to forecasters, strong upper level winds from the southwest are shearing the top off Flossie to the northeast, while the center of the storm moves west. The hurricane center said strong shearing is expected to continue, weakening Flossie to a tropical depression within 36 hours, and a remnant low in four or five days.

The hurricane center also said Wednesday that the Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron is returning to the mainland. The team of so-called "hurricane hunters" made several flights into Flossie since Sunday, gathering data for center forecasters.

Flossie's anticipated impact on the rest of the Hawaiian islands is expected to be relatively minimal. While clouds and showers will linger for the Big Island, no heavy rain is anticipated. The rest of the state will see a few more windward and mauka clouds and showers, along with breezy tradewinds in the 10 to 25 mph range.