Hawaii on alert for wind-induced fire danger as Hurricane Iona, Tropical Storm Keli pass to south
The first hurricane of the 2025 season, Iona, in the central Pacific basin, along with Tropical Storm Keli, will increase the wildfire risk in Hawaii this week.
Hawaii is sandwiched between two tropical systems and a large area of high pressure, creating something like an atmospheric wind tunnel this week.
AccuWeather hurricane experts are monitoring several areas across both the central and eastern Pacific basins for potential tropical development, as well as Tropical Storm Iona well south of Hawaii, which can increase the wildfire risk across the island chain this week. Tropical Storm Gil also formed in the eastern Pacific early Thursday morning.
Tropical Storm Iona is located about 700 miles south of Honolulu, Hawaii. Earlier this week, Iona peaked as a major Category 3 hurricane, which was the first for the central Pacific basin this year. Iona will continue to lose wind intensity over the next few days.
This image was captured early Wednesday morning (local time), July 30, 2025, and shows a much less organized Hurricane Iona, now tropical storm, (left of center) and former Tropical Storm Keli (right of center). Hawaii appears in the upper center of the image. (AccuWeather Enhanced RealVue™ Satellite)
Iona is expected to stay well south of Hawaii. While no direct impacts are expected across the Hawaiian Islands, Iona will work with the circulation of an expansive area of high pressure to the north of the islands to enhance existing trade winds in between.
“Gusty trade winds can start to pick up across the Hawaiian Islands and can last through the end of the week and into the start of next weekend," said AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva.
The increased trade winds combined with moderate or greater drought conditions across over half of the Hawaiian Islands will heighten the wildfire risk through much of this week. The dry grass and vegetation will provide plenty of fuel for any fire that sparks.
Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts™ with Premium+
"While this setup is not the same as the one that allowed the Maui wildfires to spread rapidly, high wildfire danger can still exist across the islands this week,” adds DaSilva.
Elsewhere across the Pacific
An area southeast of the island chain is being monitored for development early this week. This medium chance of development would likely be short-lived and not have any direct impact to Hawaii.
Farther to the east, AccuWeather hurricane experts are monitoring two more areas for tropical development southwest of Mexico including a high risk for tropical development in early August. Any development from either area in August could bring impacts to Mexico as well as impact any shipping interests.
Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts™ are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Report a Typo
