HONOLULU (AP) — Iona strengthened to a Category 3 hurricane several hundred miles south-southeast of Hawaii, but poses no threat to the islands, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said Tuesday. Iona is one of two major weather systems in the central Pacific Ocean.

Andrew Austin-Adler, a student meteorologist specializing in tropical cyclones, said on X: "Strongest CPAC hurricane since WALAKA is inbound. Iona is on the fast track to reaching major hurricane strength - official forecast is 120mph which could be conservative."

The hurricane is centred well south of Hawaii, and an indirect impact will be downward pressure winds from the hurricane, creating dry and breezy conditions.