Hurricane watch issued as storm nears Hawaii's Big Island

HONOLULU (AP) — The Central Pacific Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane watch for the Big Island of Hawaii as Hurricane Madeline closes in on the island.


Forecaster Derek Wroe says the storm should be near or over the Big Island by Wednesday.

Madeline was a Category 3 hurricane at midday Monday and may strengthen over the next 12 to 24 hours.

But it's expected to weaken Tuesday because of upper atmosphere conditions.

The Center's advisory on Madeline says Big Island residents could experience hurricane force winds, heavy rain and high surf on Wednesday.

Madeline was 630 miles east of Hilo on Monday and moving west northwest at 10 mph.

The hurricane had sustained winds near 115 mph.