Iona becomes first hurricane in central Pacific Ocean this year
- - Iona becomes first hurricane in central Pacific Ocean this year
Alex SundbyJuly 29, 2025 at 6:02 AM
A tropical storm in the central Pacific Ocean rapidly strengthened into Hurricane Iona on Monday, forecasters said. The hurricane didn't pose an immediate threat to the Hawaiian Islands.
Iona was located several hundred miles south-southeast of Hawaii's capital city of Honolulu on Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center based in Miami.
Map shows Hurricane Iona's projected path
A map shows the projected path of Hurricane Iona in the Pacific Ocean on July 28, 2025. / Credit: CBS
Iona was expected to move westward for the next couple of days, forecasters with the hurricane center said.
"Confidence remains high that Iona will stay well south of the Hawaiian Islands," forecasters said.
The storm was a Category 1 hurricane and is expected to strengthen. By Tuesday, Iona's maximum sustained wind speeds were forecast to be at Category 2 strength.
The storm was then expected to gradually weaken during the week.
Hurricane Iona is seen in the Pacific Ocean in a satellite image captured at 3:10 p.m. EDT, July 28, 2025. / Credit: NOAA/NESDIS/STAR GOES-West
Iona initially formed as a tropical depression late Saturday night, forecasters said. As the depression gained strength, it turned into the first named storm in the central Pacific Ocean this season.
The eastern Pacific has seen several named storms so far this season. Last month, Erick made landfall in Mexico as a Category 3 hurricane.
Earlier this month, Flossie also reached Category 3 strength as it skirted up the Mexican coast, but ultimately didn't make landfall. Barbara, this season's first hurricane in the eastern Pacific, reached Category 1 strength off Mexico's coast and also didn't make landfall.
The Atlantic Ocean has seen three named tropical storms so far this year. Forecasters at Colorado State University expect the Atlantic season to be above average with 16 named storms, eight of which are expected to be hurricanes.
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