Hurricane Ignacio tracks toward Hawaii's Big Island; winds, rains, ocean swells forecast

Keenin Ide, left, of Hilo, Hawaii, and Medea Yankova, of Sofia, Bulgaria, sit near Hilo Bay in Hilo Hawaii, Sunday Aug. 30, 2015. Hurricane Ignacio is forecast to weaken and move north of the Hawaiian Islands on Monday and Tuesday. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) (The Associated Press)

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A swimmer jumps into Hilo Bay in Hilo Hawaii, Sunday Aug. 30, 2015. Hurricane Ignacio is forecast to weaken and move north of the Hawaiian Islands on Monday and Tuesday. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) (The Associated Press)

A couple walks in a park near Hilo Bay in Hilo Hawaii, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015. Hurricane Ignacio is forecast to weaken and move north of the Hawaiian Islands on Monday and Tuesday. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) (The Associated Press)

HONOLULU – The Big Island and Maui are under a tropical storm watch as a Category 4 hurricane approaches Hawaii.

The current forecast has Hurricane Ignacio passing northeast of the Big Island on Monday and north of Maui on Tuesday. It's possible that the storm will still be at hurricane strength during that time, reported the Maui News (http://bit.ly/1UfyDAx).

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center says stormy weather could hit the Big Island on Sunday night and Maui on Monday.

As of 5 a.m. Sunday, the center said Hurricane Ignacio is 450 miles east-southeast of Hilo and likely at peak strength with sustained winds of 140 mph, reported the Honolulu Star-Advertiser (http://bit.ly/1UfrArA). The storm is expected to weaken through Monday.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa and Hawaii Gov. David Ige have signed emergency proclamations as the islands prepare for high winds, heavy rain and ocean swells.