Hurricane Kiko, a powerful Category 4 storm, is swirling in the Pacific Ocean and heading west in a direction toward Hawaii.

Forecasters warned that swells from the storm could reach the Hawaiian Islands by the end of the weekend and cause life-threatening surf and rip currents.

As of 11 p.m. Eastern Time Friday, the storm was located some 1,130 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii, and 1,335 miles east-southeast of Honolulu, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center reported in its latest advisory. Its maximum sustained winds were topping 140 mph, and it was moving west-northwest at around 12 mph.

The storm is expected to continue strengthening into Saturday before a "gradual weakening" begins Sunday, forecasters said.

No coastal watches or warnings were in effect as of Friday.

A

See Full Page