Small Tropical Storm Hilda intensified rapidly on Thursday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Hilda was located at latitude 12.7°N and longitude 133.4°W which put it about 1590 miles (2550 km) east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.  Hilda was moving toward the west at 13 m.p.h. (21 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 70 m.p.h. (115 km).  The minimum surface pressure was 1001 mb.

Hilda is a very small tropical storm.  The area of tropical storm force winds only extends outward about 40 miles (65 km) from the center.  Even though the circulation is small, it is well organized and there are hints of a tiny eye trying to form in the center of Hilda.  Hilda is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28.5°C.  The upper level winds are very light and there is little vertical wind shear.  The thunderstorms in the core of Hilda are generating upper level divergence which is pumping out mass.  Hilda is likely to strengthen more during the next day or two because of the favorable environment.  However, small tropical cyclones can weaken just as fast as they intensify.  When Hilda moves farther west it will encounter some of the same wind shear that is affecting Tropical Storm Guillermo.  As a result, Hilda is likely to weaken when it gets closer to Hawaii.

A subtropical ridge is steering HIlda toward the west and a generally west-northwestward track is expected during the next several days.  As Hilda moves farther west it could turn more toward the northwest, much like Guillermo did when it neared Hawaii.