HONOLULU -- Tropical Storm Hilda is forecast to pass south of the islands with little impact on our weather, according to the National Weather Service.

The center of Tropical Storm Hilda is located a little more than 500 miles east-southeast of Hilo and is forecast to continue west-southwest over the next 48 hours.

Its westward speed is about 9 mph with maximum sustained winds near 60 mph.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center's models show Hilda gradually strengthening to a hurricane sometime Thursday and expect the storm to shift to a west-northwest track at that time.

The current forecast track has Hilda passing Hawaii this weekend.