Hurricane Olaf appears to be weakening and may be starting a turn to the north that should keep the Category 4 hurricane well to the east and north of Hawaii.

At 5 p.m. today, Olaf was centered 995 miles southeast of Hilo and 1,205 miles east-southeast of Honolulu, moving west-northwest at 10 mph, with sustained maximum winds of 145 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

Hurricane-force winds extend 40 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds going out 140 miles from the center.

Olaf may have peaked and should begin gradually weakening Wednesday into Thursday as it moves north into cooler waters.

“Olaf appears to have adopted a more northerly short-term motion,” forecasters said.

Hurricane force winds extend 40 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds are 140 from the center.

The storm is forecast to pass well east and north of the islands and should not have a major impact on Hawaii’s weather, except for sending high surf and changing the wind direction more to the northeast. However, forecasters caution that it is not clear yet how close the storm will come to Hawaii.

Forecasters say large swells generated by Olaf should begin reaching east-facing shores of the Big Island Wednesday and other islands starting Thursday. The surf could become “potentially life-threatening and damaging,” forecasters said.

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.

In the East Pacific, Tropical Storm Patricia formed off the Mexican coast, becoming the16th tropical storm of the East Pacific season.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said  that Patricia is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Wednesday night or Thursday.

No coastal warnings or watches are in effect, but the current forecast shows Patricia making landfall in Mexico as a hurricane on Friday.

Patricia is located about 220 miles southeast of Puerto Escondido, Mexico, and about 405 miles southeast of Acapulco, Mexico. It has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and is moving southwest at 5 mph.

___

The Associated Press contributed to this story.