Hurricane Iona was expected to move westward and does not pose any land threat to the Hawaiian Islands, forecasters said.

Hurricane Iona rapidly strengthened overnight into a Category 3 hurricane well south of the Hawaiian Islands and is expected to reach Category 4 intensity later today, forecasters said.

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.