Hurricane Iselle

Tropical Storm Iselle pummeled the Hawaiian Islands with high winds and heavy rain on Friday, forcing hundreds to seek shelter and knocking out power to 23,000 people as residents kept a wary eye on an even more powerful storm headed their way.

Iselle was supposed to weaken as it slowly trudged west across the Pacific. It didn't - and now Hawaii is poised to take its first direct hurricane hit in 22 years. Tracking close behind it was Hurricane Julio, which strengthened early Thursday into a Category 2 storm.

Hawaii prepared for what could be the first hurricane to hit the state in more than 20 years as weather officials said an approaching storm wasn't weakening as previously predicted.

Hurricane Iselle formed in the Pacific far off the northwestern coast of Mexico and is heading west away from land, the US National Hurricane Center said on Friday.

Tropical Storm Iselle pummeled the Hawaiian Islands with high winds and heavy rain on Friday, forcing hundreds to seek shelter and knocking out power to 23,000 people as residents kept a wary eye on an even more powerful storm headed their way.

Iselle was supposed to weaken as it slowly trudged west across the Pacific. It didn't - and now Hawaii is poised to take its first direct hurricane hit in 22 years. Tracking close behind it was Hurricane Julio, which strengthened early Thursday into a Category 2 storm.

Hawaii prepared for what could be the first hurricane to hit the state in more than 20 years as weather officials said an approaching storm wasn't weakening as previously predicted.

Hurricane Iselle formed in the Pacific far off the northwestern coast of Mexico and is heading west away from land, the US National Hurricane Center said on Friday.