UPDATE: 11 a.m.

Hurricane Gilma has maintained its strength and forward speed but the earlier tropical depression closer to Hawaii has strengthened to a tropical storm.

The former Tropical Depression One-C has strengthened to become Tropical Storm Hone in the Central Pacific.

As of 11 a.m. today, Hone was 885 miles east-southeast of Hilo and 1,090 miles east-southeast of Honolulu with maximum sustained winds of about 40 mph with higher gusts and moving west-northwest at 14 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

Weather officials expect Hone to continue on its current track for a few days, passing near or south of Hawaii island this weekend. The storm is also expected to continue strengthening over the same period.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from Hone’s center.

Tropical storm watches may be required for portions of the Hawaiian islands tonight or Friday.

Major Hurricane Gilma was located about 1,980 miles east of Hilo at 11 a.m. today with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph with higher gusts and heading west-northwest at 7 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Forecasters now expect Gilma to show little change in strength before slowly weakening this weekend, and to hold its current course for the next several days.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from Gilma’s center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

Gilma continues strengthening today after reaching major hurricane status Wednesday night and Tropical Depression One-C has formed in the Central Pacific this morning.

At 5 a.m. today, Hurricane Gilma was located 2,015 miles east of Hilo in the Eastern Pacific with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph with higher gusts and moving toward the west-northwest near 7 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Now a category 3 hurricane, forecasters expect Gilma to strengthen slightly today before slowly weakening through the weekend. The storm should continue on its current track for a day or so before turning more westward.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 130 miles.

Meanwhile, in the Central Pacific, Tropical Depression One-C has maximum sustained winds of 35 mph with higher gusts and was located 985 miles east-southeast of Hilo as of 5 a.m. today moving west near 14 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

Forecasters expect One-C to gradually strengthen over the next 48 hours, likely forming a tropical storm later today.

Weather in the islands from Saturday through Monday will look very wet and windy with 4 to 8 inches of total storm rainfall possible along the windward side of Hawaii island and 2 to 4 inches possible along the windward areas of the smaller islands, the CPHC said. “Strong and gusty” winds are expected to buffet the islands as the storm approaches from the east.

Swells generated by the tropical depression should also start reaching the islands this weekend. “These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip currents,” the CPHC said.