Hurricane Hilda weakened on Sunday as it move closer to Hawaii.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Hurricane Hilda was located at latitude 15.3°N and longitude 148.2°W which put it about 545 miles (880 km) east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.  Hilda was moving toward the northwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 970 mb.

An upper level low north of Hawaii is generating southwesterly winds which are causing vertical wind shear near Hurricane Hilda.  The wind shear is inhibiting the upper level divergence on the western side of the circulation and the hurricane is weakening.  As Hilda moves farther northwest the wind shear will increase and the hurricane will weaken more quickly.  Hilda could weaken below hurricane strength on Tuesday.

A subtropical ridge was steering Hilda toward the west-northwest.  The hurricane is near the western end of the ridge and the upper level southwesterly winds are pushing Hilda more toward the northwest.  The northwesterly motion is likely to continue while Hilda produces tall thunderstorms and the circulation extends through the troposphere.  If Hilda weakens to the point where it no longer produces tall thunderstorms, then it will be steered more toward the west by the winds in the lower levels of the atmosphere.