Hurricane Downgraded to Storm

Hurricane Fabio was downgraded to a tropical storm as it weakened drastically and veered away from the Hawaiian Islands Thursday, prompting authorities to lift a storm watch imposed for the island of Hawaii.

Air Force “hurricane hunter” reconnaissance planes located the center of the storm 380 miles southeast of Hilo and 595 miles from Honolulu and said that it had maximum sustained winds of only 63 m.p.h. with gusts to 80 m.p.h. It was moving toward the west at 12 m.p.h. Earlier in the day, its winds were a steady 85 m.p.h. with gusts to 105 m.p.h.

“The strong winds associated with Fabio earlier are now on the wane and there is no reason to believe this trend will change,” the National Weather Service said.

“In addition, the veering will take Fabio’s center farther away from the islands and reduce the probability of tropical storm-force wind conditions,” the weather service said.

The storm’s course had changed from west-northwest--which would have taken it close to the islands--to due west, which would take it south of the chain.

Forecasters canceled the tropical storm watch for Hawaii island but kept a high surf advisory in effect.