“Confidence remains high that Iona will stay well south of the Hawaiian Islands,” forecasters report. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center, while tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center. There are no other coastal watches or warnings in effect.

Hurricane Iona has strengthened into a Category 3 storm far southeast of the Hawaiian Islands. The NHC is also tracking more in the Pacific.

Hurricane Iona was expected to move westward and does not pose any land threat to the Hawaiian Islands, forecasters said.