Hurricane Flossie is a powerful hurricane in the Pacific, with winds of 135mph tonight. That makes this storm a powerful, category-four hurricane. A monster like this has the potential to cause tremendous damage if it were to make landfall. And it's moving closer and closer to Hawaii.

The forecast track has it brushing by the Big Island Tuesday into Wednesday as a category one or category two hurricane. So it should weaken significantly before it impacts Hawaii. Still, what can they expect? On that track, and at that strength, Hawaii would receive some heavy rain and strong winds - approaching 50 or 60 miles per hour.

That, of course, is if the forecast doesn't change. Hurricane Flossie may be stronger than expected when it passes by Hawaii...or it could go right into the island chain. That's why this storm is being watched so closely.

Along the West Coast we don't typically worry about hurricanes because our ocean water is so cold. A hurricane needs water of at least 80 degrees to form and survive...and we just don't have that here. Of course, the water by Hawaii is much warmer, and that warm water allows hurricanes to occassionally threaten the island chain.

For updates on Hurricane Flossie's progress, check out the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

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