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TROPICAL STORM NEKI ADVISORY NUMBER 30
NWS CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER HONOLULU HI CP032009
500 PM HST SUN OCT 25 2009

AT 500 PM HST…0300 UTC…THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM NEKI WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 25.0 NORTH…LONGITUDE 165.3 WEST OR ABOUT 425 MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF LIHUE HAWAII AND ABOUT 100 MILES NORTHEAST OF FRENCH FRIGATE SHOALS.

NEKI IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 5 MPH. NEKI IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN MOVING NORTHWARD TONIGHT…THEN BEGIN ACCELERATING TOWARD THE NORTH NORTHEAST MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT WHILE UNDERGOING EXTRATROPICAL TRANSITION. NEKI IS EXPECTED TO BE EXTRATROPICAL BY MID DAY TUESDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 45 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. GRADUAL WEAKENING IS FORECAST THROUGH THE NEXT 48 HOURS AS NEKI UNDERGOES EXTRATROPICAL TRANSITION.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 190 MILES FROM THE CENTER.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1004 MB…29.65 INCHES.

…SUMMARY OF 500 PM HST INFORMATION…
LOCATION…25.0N 165.3W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…45 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT…WEST OR 275 DEGREES AT 5 MPH
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…1004 MB

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER AT 1100 PM HST.

More info at the Central Pacific Hurricane Center

Central Pacific Infrared Images

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TROPICAL STORM NEKI ADVISORY NUMBER 27
NWS CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER HONOLULU HI CP032009
1100 PM HST SAT OCT 24 2009

…TROPICAL STORM NEKI STALLS FAR NORTHWEST OF THE MAIN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS…

AT 1100 PM HST…0900 UTC…THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM NEKI WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 24.8 NORTH…LONGITUDE 163.9 WEST OR ABOUT 345 MILES NORTHWEST OF LIHUE…HAWAII AND ABOUT 165 MILES EAST-NORTHEAST OF FRENCH FRIGATE SHOALS.

NEKI IS NEARLY STATIONARY…BUT IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN MOVING SLOWLY NORTHWARD BY SUNDAY MORNING. THIS SLOW NORTHWARD MOTION IS FORECAST TO CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT AND EARLY MONDAY. BY LATE MONDAY…NEKI WILL LIKELY BEGIN TO ACCELERATE TOWARD THE NORTH NORTHEAST OVER THE OPEN WATERS OF THE NORTH CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 60 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. NEKI IS EXPECTED TO GRADUALLY WEAKEN FROM SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY MORNING. BY LATE MONDAY…NEKI MAY BEGIN TO TRANSITION INTO AN EXTRATROPICAL SYSTEM AS IT ACCELERATES TOWARD THE NORTH NORTHEAST.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 115 MILES FROM THE CENTER.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1002 MB…29.59 INCHES.

…SUMMARY OF 1100 PM HST INFORMATION…
LOCATION…24.8N 163.9W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…60 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT…STATIONARY
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…1002 MB

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER AT 500 AM HST.

More info at the Central Pacific Hurricane Center

Central Pacific Infrared Images

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TROPICAL STORM NEKI ADVISORY NUMBER 22…CORRECTED
NWS CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER HONOLULU HI CP032009
500 PM HST FRI OCT 23 2009

…CENTER OF NEKI PASSING BETWEEN NECKER ISLAND AND FRENCH FRIGATE SHOALS…

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE PAPAHANAUMOKUAKEA NATIONAL MONUMENT FROM NIHOA ISLAND TO FRENCH FRIGATE SHOALS TO MARO REEF.

AT 500 PM HST…0300 UTC…THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM NEKI WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 23.4 NORTH…LONGITUDE 165.2 WEST OR ABOUT 380 MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF LIHUE HAWAII AND ABOUT 80 MILES EAST- SOUTHEAST OF FRENCH FRIGATE SHOALS.

NEKI IS MOVING SLOWLY TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 5 MPH…AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 65 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. GRADUAL WEAKENING IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 175 MILES FROM THE CENTER.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 998 MB…29.47 INCHES.

HEAVY RAINS OF 6 TO 10 INCHES…ROUGH SEAS OF UP TO 20 FEET…AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT NEAR FRENCH FRIGATE SHOALS AND NECKER ISLAND. CONDITIIONS WILL BEGIN GRADUALLY IMPROVING ON SATURDAY AS NEKI SLOWLY MOVES AWAY.

…SUMMARY OF 500 PM HST INFORMATION…
LOCATION…23.4N 165.2W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…65 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT…NORTH-NORTHEAST OR 25 DEGREES AT 5 MPH
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…998 MB

AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER AT 800 PM HST FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 1100 PM HST.

More info at the Central Pacific Hurricane Center

Central Pacific Infrared Images

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HURRICANE NEKI ADVISORY NUMBER 19
NWS CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER HONOLULU HI CP032009
1100 PM HST THU OCT 22 2009

THE HURRICANE WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE PAPAHANAUMOKUAKEA NATIONAL MONUMENT FROM NIHOA ISLAND TO FRENCH FRIGATE SHOALS TO MARO REEF.

AT 1100 PM HST…0900 UTC…THE CENTER OF HURRICANE NEKI WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 22.3 NORTH…LONGITUDE 165.9 WEST OR ABOUT 415 MILES WEST OF LIHUE HAWAII AND ABOUT 115 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF FRENCH FRIGATE SHOALS.

NEKI IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 9 MPH AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT 48 HOURS. ON THIS TRACK…TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY OCCURRING OVER PORTIONS OF THE WARNING AREA WITH HURRICANE CONDITIONS EXPECTED OVERNIGHT INTO FRIDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 90 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. NEKI IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. GRADUAL WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 50 MILES FROM THE CENTER…AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 185 MILES.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 980 MB…28.94 INCHES.

RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 8 TO 12 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG THE PATH OF NEKI.

LARGE SWELLS FROM THE SOUTH WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD OVERNIGHT IN ADVANCE OF NEKI ACROSS THE ISLANDS OF THE PAPAHANAUMOKUAKEA NATIONAL MONUMENT. SEAS ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE WARNING AREA WILL BUILD TO 20 FEET OR GREATER…CREATING SURF OF 20 TO 25 FT.

…SUMMARY OF 1100 PM HST INFORMATION…
LOCATION…22.3N 165.9W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…90 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT…NORTH-NORTHEAST OR 15 DEGREES AT 9 MPH
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…980 MB

AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER AT 200 AM HST FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 500 AM HST.

More info at the Central Pacific Hurricane Center

Central Pacific Infrared Images

Papahanaumokuakea National Monument Facing Hurricane Neki

By Rob Gutro, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

NASA's Terra satellite passed over Neki and the MODIS instrument captured an image that clearly shows an eye, on October 21 at 11:45 a.m. HST local time. Credit: NASA MODIS Rapid Response Team

A hurricane warning is in force for the Papahanaumokuakea National Monument from Nihoa Island to French Frigate Shoals to Maro Reef. Hurricane conditions likely there by 5 a.m. HST on Friday, October 23.

The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is the single largest conservation area under the U.S. flag, and one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world. It encompasses 139,797 square miles of the Pacific Ocean (105,564 square nautical miles) – an area larger than all the country’s national parks combined.

Many of the islands and shallow water environments in the National Monument are important habitats for rare species such as the threatened green sea turtle and the endangered Hawaiian monk seal.

As Hurricane Neki nears, the storm had maximum sustained winds near 115 mph at 5 a.m. HST (11 a.m. EDT) today, October 22. It was located about 245 miles south of French frigate shoals and 525 miles west of Honolulu, Hawaii, near 20.4 North and 166.0 West. Neki was moving north-northeast near 10 mph, and had a minimum central pressure of 965 millibars.

Neki’s hurricane force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 205 miles.

NASA’s Terra satellite passed over Neki and captured an image of the large storm using the Moderate Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument on October 21 at 2145 UTC (5:45 p.m. EDT/11:45 a.m. HST local time).

NASA Aqua satellite also took a look at Neki, and measured the storm’s thunderstorm cloud-top temperatures using infrared imagery. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument showed some high thunderstorm tops in Neki indicating heavy rainfall and strong convection. Those cloud temperatures were colder than minus 63F.

High seas are a concern with Neki. Neki is creating high seas of 15 to 20 feet that will build up across the smaller islands of the Papahanaumokuakea National Monument. For more information about the Papahanaumokuakea National Monument, visit: papahanaumokuakea.gov/.

Little change in Neki’s strength is forecast over the next 24 hours, but Neki is expected weaken as the storm heads into cooler waters and wind shear. Neki is forecast to continue moving northeast and then weaken to a depression by early next week.

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BULLETIN
HURRICANE NEKI ADVISORY NUMBER 17
NWS CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER HONOLULU HI CP032009
1100 AM HST THU OCT 22 2009

…DANGEROUS HURRICANE NEKI CONTINUES MOVING NORTHWARD…

THE HURRICANE WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE PAPAHANAUMOKUAKEA NATIONAL MONUMENT FROM NIHOA ISLAND TO FRENCH FRIGATE SHOALS TO MARO REEF. A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED IN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 36 HOURS.

AT 1100 AM HST…2100 UTC…THE CENTER OF HURRICANE NEKI WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 20.8 NORTH…LONGITUDE 166.3 WEST OR ABOUT 545 MILES WEST OF HONOLULU HAWAII AND ABOUT 215 MILES SOUTH OF FRENCH FRIGATE SHOALS.

NEKI IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 9 MPH AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS. NEKI IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE ITS FORWARD WITH A GRADUAL TURN TOWARD THE NORTHEAST THEREAFTER. ON THIS TRACK…TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE WARNING AREA THIS AFTERNOON WITH HURRICANE CONDITIONS EXPECTED TONIGHT.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 105 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. NEKI IS A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. GRADUAL WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 60 MILES FROM THE CENTER…AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 205 MILES.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 970 MB…28.64 INCHES.

RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 8 TO 12 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG THE PATH OF NEKI.

LARGE SWELLS FROM THE SOUTH WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD THIS AFTERNOON IN ADVANCE OF NEKI ACROSS THE ISLANDS OF THE PAPAHANAUMOKUAKEA NATIONAL MONUMENT. SEAS ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE WARNING AREA WILL BUILD IN EXCESS OF 20 FT THIS AFTERNOON AND FRIDAY…CREATING SURF OF 20 TO 25 FT.

…SUMMARY OF 1100 AM HST INFORMATION…
LOCATION…20.8N 166.3W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…105 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT…NORTH-NORTHEAST OR 15 DEGREES AT 9 MPH
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…970 MB

AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER AT 200 PM HST FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 500 PM HST.NE CENTER AT 800 PM HST FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 1100 PM HST.

More info at the Central Pacific Hurricane Center

Central Pacific Infrared Images

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BULLETIN
HURRICANE NEKI INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 10A
NWS CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER HONOLULU HI CP032009
800 PM HST TUE OCT 20 2009

…HURRICANE NEKI CONTINUES TO TRACK NORTHWESTWARD AND STRENGTHEN FAR SOUTHWEST OF THE MAIN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS….

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR JOHNSTON ISLAND. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WATCH AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 48 HOURS.

AT 800 PM HST…0600 UTC…THE CENTER OF HURRICANE NEKI WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 15.9 NORTH…LONGITUDE 165.6 WEST OR ABOUT 625 MILES SOUTHWEST OF HONOLULU HAWAII AND ABOUT 270 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF JOHNSTON ISLAND.

NEKI IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 14 MPH. NEKI WILL GRADUALLY TURN TO THE NORTH NORTHWEST AND SLOW ITS FORWARD MOTION DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 80 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. NEKI IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE AND IS FORECAST TO CONTINUE INTENSIFYING THROUGH 48 HOURS.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 30 MILES FROM THE CENTER…AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 100 MILES.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 985 MB…29.09 INCHES.

ANYONE NEAR JOHNSTON ISLAND IS URGED TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF NEKI. A TROPICAL STORM OR HURRICANE WARNING COULD BE ISSUED FOR JOHNSTON ISLAND LATER TONIGHT.

…SUMMARY OF 800 PM HST INFORMATION…
LOCATION…15.9N 165.6W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…80 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT…NORTHWEST OR 320 DEGREES AT 14 MPH
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…985 MB

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER AT 1100 PM HST.

More info at the Central Pacific Hurricane Center

Central Pacific Infrared Images

NASA’s TRMM Sees Some Heavy Rains in Neki as it Heads Toward Johnston Island

By Rob Gutro, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

TRMM's analysis of rainfall within Neki showed areas of heavy rainfall. The yellow and green areas indicate moderate rainfall between .78 to 1.57 inches per hour. Red areas are heavy rainfall at almost 2 inches per hour. Credit: NASA/SSAI, Hal Pierce

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission, or TRMM satellite has been flying over Tropical Storm Neki in the Central Pacific Ocean and providing scientists with an idea of how much rainfall Johnston Island can expect from it.

A Hurricane Watch is already in effect for Johnston Island. That means hurricane conditions are possible within the next 48 hours. A Hurricane Warning may be issued later today, meaning hurricane conditions are happening.

Johnston Island is the main island in the Johnston Atoll, a 50-square-mile atoll in the North Pacific Ocean. It’s located 750 nautical miles west of Hawaii. The Atoll consists of four islands: Johnston, Sand, North Island and East Island.

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite, managed by NASA and the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) passed over Tropical Storm Neki on October 20 at 1043 UTC (6:43 a.m. EDT/12:43a.m. HST) and captured a look at Neki’s rainfall. TRMM found that there were some areas of heavy rainfall in the northeast quadrant of the storm. Rainfall rates were around 2 inches per hour in that part of Neki.

Rain rates are created from different instruments aboard TRMM. The rain rates in the center of TRMM images are derived from the TRMM Precipitation Radar, the only spaceborne radar of its kind, while those in the outer portion are from the TRMM Microwave Imager. The rain rates are then overlaid on infrared data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner to create the entire image. The images are created at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, in Greenbelt, Md.

TRMM also has the ability to analyze how high the thunderstorms are in tropical cyclones, and this morning’s image indicated there were some “hot towers,” that is, towering thunderstorms that are almost 15 kilometers (about 9 miles) high. That’s an indication that the storm is strengthening.

At 2 a.m. HST (8 a.m. EDT) on October 20, Tropical Storm Neki’s maximum sustained winds had increased from 40 mph to 50 mph, and it is expected to continue intensifying. Neki was located about 515 miles east-southeast of Johnston Island, and 640 miles south-southeast of Honolulu, Hawaii. It was near 13.0 North and 162.8 West. Neki is moving northwest near 18 mph and will continue in that direction for the next two days, although it is forecast to slow down. Estimated minimum central pressure is 1005 millibars.

Neki will continue to strengthen as it moves northwest and could pass Johnston Island as a hurricane. Tropical Storm Neki is headed for a landfall over the tiny island by Thursday, October 22.

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TROPICAL STORM NEKI ADVISORY NUMBER 6
NWS CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER HONOLULU HI CP032009
500 PM HST MON OCT 19 2009

AT 500 PM HST…0300 UTC…A HURRICANE WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR JOHNSTON ISLAND. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WATCH AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 48 HOURS.

ANYONE ON OR NEAR JOHNSTON ISLAND IS URGED TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF NEKI. A HURRICANE WARNING MAY BE ISSUED FOR JOHNSTON ISLAND LATE TONIGHT OR ON TUESDAY.

AT 500 PM HST…0300 UTC…THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM NEKI WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 11.6 NORTH…LONGITUDE 161.0 WEST OR ABOUT 700 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF HONOLULU HAWAII AND ABOUT 670 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF JOHNSTON ISLAND.

NEKI IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 17 MPH AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT 36 HOURS. BEYOND 36 HOURS… NEKI IS FORECAST TO TURN TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST WITH A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 40 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. NEKI IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN STRENGTH AND BECOME A HURRICANE WITHIN 36 TO 48 HOURS.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES FROM THE CENTER.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1006 MB…29.71 INCHES.

…SUMMARY OF 500 PM HST INFORMATION…
LOCATION…11.6N 161.0W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…40 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT…NORTHWEST OR 310 DEGREES AT 17 MPH
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…1006 MB

AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER AT 800 PM HST FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 1100 PM HST.

More info at the Central Pacific Hurricane Center

Central Pacific Infrared Images

Two NASA Satellites See Tropical Storm Neki Form in the Central Pacific

By Rob Gutro, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

NASA's QuikScat instrument captured an inside look at Tropical Storm Neki's winds on Oct. 19 at 0425 UTC (12:25 a.m. EDT). White barbs point to areas of heavy rain. The highest wind speeds, are shown in purple, which indicate winds over 40 knots (46 mph). Credit: NASA JPL, Peter Falco

Tropical Storm Neki formed today about 830 miles southeast of Johnston Island in the Central Pacific Ocean. NASA’s QuikScat and Aqua satellites quickly captured and analyzed winds and temperatures in Neki, enabling forecasters to see the storm strengthening.

Today, October 19, at 11 a.m. EDT (5 a.m. HST) Neki had maximum sustained winds near 40 mph, and was moving west-northwest near 14 mph. Estimated minimum central pressure is 1006 millibars. It was 825 miles south of Honolulu, Hawaii and about 830 miles southeast of Johnston Island near latitude 9.5 North and longitude 159.6 West. Neki is expected to shift slowly toward the northwest later tonight or Tuesday, at which time it is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane.

NASA’s QuikScat instrument captured an inside look at Tropical Storm Neki’s surface winds using microwave technology from its vantage point in space on Oct. 19 at 0425 UTC (12:25 a.m. EDT). QuikScat showed highest wind speeds near 40 mph.

NASA’s Aqua satellite also flew above Neki and the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument captured a visible, infrared and microwave image of the storm. The visible image showed a storm getting organized and developing the signature tropical storm shape. The infrared and microwave images confirmed some high thunderstorms, indicating some strong convection and a strengthening storm.

Neki is forecast to pass very close to Johnston Island on Wednesday, October 21 as a hurricane.