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

Hurricane Iona, the first named storm of the Central Pacific season, quickly intensified overnight into a Category 1 hurricane far southeast of the Hawaiian Islands, while a new tropical depression also formed in the basin.

This is the update from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center as of Monday July 28. Major Hurricane Iona: Hurricane Iona continues to strengthen while far from the islands. Iona has reached Cat 3 strength and additional strengthening can be expected in the short-term.