Hurricane Iona was expected to move westward for the next couple of days and stay far south of the Hawaiian Islands, forecasters said.

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

Hurricane Iona has rapidly strengthened in the Pacific Ocean well south of Hawaii, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). At present, Iona doesn't pose a threat to Hawaii Why It Matters It marks the first hurricane in the central Pacific Ocean this year.