Hurricane Olaf is passing due east of Hawaii island tonight as it  begins a turn to the northeast, away from the state.

Olaf’s winds are decreased to 120 mph, down from 130 mph earlier today. The storm was about 615 miles east of Hilo, and 815 miles east-southeast of Honolulu moving north-northeast at 10 mph at 5 p.m.

The National Weather Service posted a high surf warning for east shores of Hawaii island and Maui and issued high surf advisories for east shores in West Maui because of potentially dangerous surf generated by Olaf.

A separate high surf advisory is in effect for south shores of all islands from a storm in New Zealand.

Surf up to 12 to 18 feet is expected to hit Hawaii island’s east shores, with surf of 5 to 8 feet forecast the south shores of all islands.

The warnings and advisories are in effect until 6 p.m. Saturday.

“Expect ocean water occasionally sweeping across portions of beaches, very strong breaking waves and strong longshore and rip currents. Breaking waves may occasionally impact harbors making navigating the harbor channel dangerous,” the weather service warning said.

As Olaf continues north, it will pass out of the Big Island’s surf shadow and other islands will get swells from the storm.

“Surf along east-facing shores of Kauai, Oahu and Molokai will likely see an increase today and could potentially reach advisory conditions tonight or Saturday as the swell generation zone of Olaf becomes more direct from the east. However, most of the focus of Olaf’s swell is expected over the north portions of these islands,” forecasters said.

Hurricane-force winds from Olaf extend 30 miles from the center, while tropical storm-force winds reach 175 miles from the storm’s center.

While it strengthened today, forecasters still expect it to weaken as it enters cooler waters and increasing wind shear. By Monday, the forecast shows Olaf as a tropical storm.

Olaf is the 15th tropical cyclone in the Central Pacific in 2015, far surpassing the previous record of 11 in 1992 and 1994. It is also the eighth hurricane in the Central Pacific this season, topping the previous record of five in 1994.

Warmer-than-normal waters from El Nino conditions have helped fuel tropical cyclones in the East and Central Pacific, scientists say. With about six weeks remaining in the hurricane season, forecasters urge Hawaii residents to remain vigilant and prepared.