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

Iona became the first named storm of the 2025 hurricane season in the Central Pacific on Sunday evening local time. The storm was over the ocean south of Hawaii, with maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour.

“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.