Tropical Storm Niala organized quickly southeast of Hawaii on Friday and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center issued a Tropical Storm Watch for Hawaii County.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Niala was located at latitude 15.7°N and longitude 150.4°W which put it about 415 miles (665 km) southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.  Niala was moving toward the northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11km/h).   The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (70 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1001 mb.

The circulation inside Niala consolidated quickly around the core of the tropical storm on Friday.  A primary rainband wrapped around the eastern and northern side of the circulation creating a small eyelike feature at the center of circulation.  At least three additional rainbands formed in the eastern half of the tropical storm.  There are fewer thunderstorms in the western half of the circulation which could indicated the presence of drier, more stable air in that part of Niala.

Niala is over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are nearly 29°C.  The upper level winds are not too strong and the thunderstorms around the core of the circulation are generating upper level divergence,  Niala could strenthen during the next day or so.  A large upper level trough extends from northeast of Hawaii to the islands.  As Niala moves toward the northwest, it will start to move under strong southwesterly winds on the eastern side of the trough.  Those winds will create strong vertical wind shear and Niala will weaken as it approaches Hawaii.

A subtropical ridge is steering Niala toward the northwest and that general motion is expected to continue for another 24 hours.  When the wind shear weakens Niala, the circulation will not extend as high into the atmosphere.  After that time the winds lower in the atmosphere will steer the weakening Niala toward the west.