Neki was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane this afternoon and a hurricane watch remains in effect for Johnston Island.

At 2 p.m., the storm was 340 miles east-southeast of Johnston Island and was moving northwest at 15 mph. Neki was packing winds of 75 mph and was expected to continue intensifying over the next 48 hours, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.
Neki was about 630 miles southwest of Honolulu and was not expected to affect the Islands. Johnston Island is about 800 miles southwest of Hawaiçi.
A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within 48 hours.