The structure and internal organization of Tropical Storm Ana has increased during the past 12 hours and it has intensified into a hurricane.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT the center of Hurricane Ana was located at latitude 16.4°N and longitude 155.2°W which put it about 230 miles south of Hilo and about 380 miles south-southeast of Honolulu, Hawaii.  Ana was moving toward the west-northwest at 14 m.p.h.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. and the minimum surface pressure was 987 mb.

The high pressure system that was steering Ana toward the west is weakening as an upper level trough approaches from the northwest.  The result of the interaction of the two systems is to steer Ana more toward the northwest.  Guidance from numerical models suggests that the center of Ana could stay south of the Hawaiian islands.  A new high pressure system is expected to build north of Ana and turn it back onto a more westward track in a couple of days.  The timing of that turn could determine how much of an effect Ana has on Hawaii.  A deviation of the track farther to the north would cause Ana to have a greater impact.  Tropical Storm Watches have been issued for Hawaii County, for Maui County including the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolwe, for Oahu, and for Kauai County including the islands of Kauai and Niihau.

The wind shear over Ana has decreased and some further intensification is possible.  When the upper level trough gets closer to Ana, the wind shear will increase and the hurricane should start to weaken.