Hurricane Henriette unexpectedly gains strength near Hawaii, winds may reach 80 mph

Hurricane Henriette is passing well to the north of Hawaii Monday after it underwent rapid intensification over the weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Henriette was downgraded from a tropical storm in the Eastern Pacific to a tropical depression, but restrengthened into a hurricane as it tracked away from Hawaii.

The storm will not have any direct impacts on land.

Tropical Storm Henriette formed on Monday, Aug. 4. Late Sunday morning, the NHC said Henriette rapidly intensified into a hurricane with 80 mph winds.

The NHC said Monday morning that additional strengthening is expected through the day before the storm begins to weaken on Tuesday.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, this was an unexpected turn of events for Henriette.

“This burst of rapid intensification wasn’t well-anticipated and recent data shows a strong storm structure,” the FOX Forecast Center said. “Henriette may intensify more quickly than models suggest.”

Henriette is following a similar path to that of Tropical Storm Gil, passing well north of the Hawaiian islands. Even so, it’ll generate swells that will push toward Hawaii this week.

On the North Shore of O’ahu, wave heights at the beach were forecast to reach 10 to 14 feet on Sunday.

According to the National Weather Service in Honolulu, Henriette is forecast to produce hybrid sea breeze and trade winds.

While not being caused by Henriette, a High Surf Advisory is in effect for all south-facing shores through Monday evening.

While the impacts will be negligible, Henriette is leaving its mark in the history books after intensifying to hurricane strength north of Hawaii.

Since 1950, only 12 storms have been at hurricane strength north of Hawaii, the FOX Forecast Center said.

Historically, the water north of Hawaii has not been warm enough to support hurricane formation, and wind shear is greater than it is to the south.

This year, the water is anomalously warm, at 79 degrees, which is right at the threshold for what hurricanes need to develop.