Hurricane Iona has strengthened to Category 3, several hundred miles south-southeast of Hawaii. The weather system — one of two in the area — poses no threat to the islands, the U.S.

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.

It's officially hurricane season, and that means keeping a closer eye on the weather this time of year, especially if you live in Hawaii. Fox Weather on Monday reported that the National Hurricane Center upgraded Iona from a tropical storm after forming Sunday night south of Hawaii to a Category 1