Hurricane Cosme weakened significantly yesterday and is now expected to be dissipating by the time it reaches Hawai'i this weekend, but it could still bring the Islands a fair amount of rain.

"The satellite images show it's tapping into tropical moisture to the south and pulling that up to the north. I do think that Friday night and Saturday and Sunday there will be rain," said Jim Weyman, director of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

The hurricane had diminished to tropical storm strength yesterday. It was expected to be about 1,000 miles from the Big Island this morning, and to cross 140 degrees west longitude during the day today, thus entering the central Pacific. The fringes of the system should reach the Big Island Friday, based on its current track and speed.

"There is a great deal of moisture up north of the system, but I don't want to communicate any risk of flooding at this time," Weyman said. "It could be a beneficial rain, 1 to 2 inches."

He said rain is likely to hit all the Islands, even though the center of the storm is now expected to pass east to west 30 to 60 miles south of South Point, on the Big Island, and a couple hundred miles south of O'ahu and Kaua'i. However, the clouds to the north of the center can extend 300 or more miles out, so the rainfall can easily sweep the entire state.

Winds are now forecast at about 25 to 30 mph when the system reaches the Islands.

State Civil Defense spokesman Dave Curtis said the agency is keeping close track of the storm and receiving briefings from the National Weather Service.

While this storm doesn't appear to pose a threat to the Islands, Curtis said, it's a reminder that "we are, after all, in the middle of hurricane season. It's a great time to get ready, and if you don't have an emergency kit packed or a family plan, it's a good time to do it."

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.