At 500 PM HST (0300 UTC), the center of Hurricane Douglas was located near latitude 14.9 North, longitude 138.8 West which is approximately 1125 miles east southeast of Hilo.  Douglas is moving toward the west-northwest near 18 mph (30 km/h), and this motion is expected to continue for the next few days with a gradual decrease in forward speed and a slight turn toward the west. On the forecast track Douglas will approach the Hawaiian Islands Saturday night, and be near those Islands on Sunday.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 130 mph (215 km/h) with higher gusts.  Douglas is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.  Gradual weakening expected to begin on Friday and continue through the weekend.  Douglas is forecast to be near hurricane strength when it approaches the Hawaiian Islands.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles (45 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km). Visit www.kwxxweather.com for the latest satellite images.