Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Tropical Storm Kiko strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane on Tuesday, according to forecasters who expect it to become a major hurricane in the next day or two.
The storm had maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. HST update.
It was located about 1,740 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii, and was moving westerly at 7 mph, and was expected to continue moving in that direction along open waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean, the forecasters said.
"The main steering feature continues to be a subtropical ridge located to the north of Kiko," the NHC said.
"A slow westward motion should continue for the next couple of days," followed by a "turn toward the west-northwest" in three to four days, the NHC forecast said.
