Hurricane Julio strengthens into Category 2 storm

Hurricane Iselle set to make landfall on Big Island later today

Hurricane Iselle, left and Hurricane Julio, right, near Hawaii, far left.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hurricane Iselle, left and Hurricane Julio, right, near Hawaii, far left.

HONOLULU — Hurricane Julio strengthened into a Category 2 storm as it spun toward Hawaii, with winds gusting at a sustained speed of 100 mph.

The National Hurricane Center said it expected the storm to strengthen even more today before gradually weakening by tonight. That weakening is expected to continue into the weekend.

Julio is close behind Hurricane Iselle, which was set to make landfall on Hawaii’s Big Island later today.

The Big Island is under a hurricane warning, while much of the rest of the chain was under a tropical storm warning.

The storm could push damaging swells ashore and lead to coastal flooding.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu warned today that gusts up to 55 mph could lash the islands, damaging homes.