Olaf weakened to a Category 2 storm and is no longer considered a major hurricane. But the storm is still generating hazardous surf for east shores of Hawaii island and Maui.

The National Weather Service posted a high surf warning for east shores of Hawaii island and a high surf advisory for Maui’s eastern shores.

Waves of 12 to 18 feet are expected to hit the Big Island and surf of 8 to 12 feet is forecast for Maui.

A high surf advisory is also in effect for all islands until 6 a.m. Saturday. Forecasters expect surf up to 5 to 8 feet along all south-facing shores.

“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.

Olaf, with sustained maximum winds of 110 mph, was centered 685 miles east-southeast of Hilo and 895 miles east-southeast of Honolulu, moving north at 9 mph, at 5 p.m. today, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. 

It’s a Category 2 hurricane, down from its peak as a strong Category 4 storm earlier this week.

Hurricane-force winds extend 30 miles from the center, while tropical storm-force winds reach 160 miles from Olaf’s center.

It’s weakening as it enters cooler waters and increasing wind shear. By Monday, the forecast shows Olaf as a tropical storm.

Olaf is forecast to continue on a northerly track until Friday or Saturday when it will begin moving to the northeast, away from Hawaii.

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.