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Hurricane Iona Discussion Number  11
NWS Central Pacific Hurricane Center Honolulu HI   CP012025
Issued by NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
1100 AM HST Tue Jul 29 2025
 
 
After rapidly intensifying over the past day or so, Iona's strength 
appears to have leveled off. The eye of the hurricane is not quite 
as distinct as it was a few hours ago and the convective pattern is 
slightly less symmetric.  The initial intensity is held at 110 kt, 
but this is near the high end of the latest satellite intensity 
estimates. Although Iona is quite powerful, its wind field remains 
compact. The hurricane- and tropical-storm-force wind radii are 
estimated to only extend up to 25 n mi and 80 n mi from the center, 
respectively.
 
The major hurricane is likely near its peak intensity. Water vapor 
images show a large area of dry and likely stable air just west of 
the system, and this stable air combined with increasing shear 
should cause Iona to steadily weaken during the next several days. 
The new forecast is a touch lower than the previous one and lies 
generally near the middle of the guidance envelope.
 
Iona has been moving due westward at about 12 kt on the south side 
of a narrow mid-level ridge situated across the Hawaiian Islands. 
The hurricane should continue westward on the south side of the 
ridge during the next few days, and then turn west-northwestward to 
northwestward after that when it moves toward the southwestern 
periphery of the high pressure system.  The models are again a 
little slower this cycle, and the new track forecast has been 
adjusted in that direction. Iona is expected to cross the 
International Date Line in about 4 days.
 
 
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
 
INIT  29/2100Z 10.9N 155.7W  110 KT 125 MPH
 12H  30/0600Z 11.0N 157.7W  100 KT 115 MPH
 24H  30/1800Z 11.2N 160.7W   90 KT 105 MPH
 36H  31/0600Z 11.5N 164.1W   80 KT  90 MPH
 48H  31/1800Z 11.9N 167.7W   70 KT  80 MPH
 60H  01/0600Z 12.6N 171.0W   60 KT  70 MPH
 72H  01/1800Z 13.5N 174.0W   55 KT  65 MPH
 96H  02/1800Z 15.3N 179.6W   50 KT  60 MPH
120H  03/1800Z 17.2N 175.6E   40 KT  45 MPH
 
$$
Forecaster Cangialosi
 
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