Tropical Storm Felicia is continuing to weaken with maximum sustained winds near 50 mph that extend outward 115 miles from the storm's center, according to the National Weather Service.

At 8 p.m. tonight, the National Weather Service has issued a tropical storm watch for Oahu, the Big Island and Maui, which includes Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the next 36 to 48 hours.
Air Force Reconnaissance crew members collected data from a fly-through of the storm system today that shows the east-facing shores of the Big Island should feel the impact and the remaining Hawaiian islands tonight and tomorrow, the Weather Service says. The reconnaissance mission put the storm about 435 miles east-northeast of Hilo and 605 miles east of Honolulu.
Still forecasters are unsure what strength Felicia will be when it makes landfall, a tropical storm or tropical depression. But already large swells are pounding the east-facing shores of the Big island.
Either will produce heavy rains and flash flooding remain a possibility.
In preparation, the county of Hawaii is heeding the warnings of the National Weather Service that has placed the island under a flash flood watch for Monday. Heavy rains are forecasted to begin Monday evening through Tuesday.
Today the county closed beach parks between Whittington Beach Park in Kau and Laupahoehoe Beach Park in Hamakua through Wednesday morning. Hookena Beach Park in South Kona is included in the closure. Resident in coastal areas should be on alert. Forecasters predict surf could be 18 feet or greater.
The Big Island Civil Defense is urging residents to be prepared for road closures and power outages.
Maui County officials similarly closed today several rural, east-facing parks, including Honomanu, Keanae and Kipahulu Point Light Station. Tomorrow afternoon county campgrounds and county sponsored recreations programs will be canceled.
The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has closed the back country hiking trails and the Haleakala National Park will close it's back country travel starting tomorrow.
Following a video teleconference involving all the counties this afternoon, officials on Kauai are predicting that wind and rain will affect Kauai residents mostly like on Tuesday.
In preparation, Kauai officials have topped off the tanks of all public works vehicles and are working to make sure ditches and culverts are free of obstruction in anticipation of possible flooding. Park and recreation officials will advise campers of projected weather conditions.
Shelters have been identified and members of the Kauai Visitors Bureau have been in contact with the visitor industry in case special assistance is needed.
At this point, however, forecasters are unable to predict with certainty the areas that will be affected or the duration of the heavy rains from the tropical storm. Forecasters do not know yet the track that Felicia will ultimately take.
At last check, Felicia was heading west at 14 mph, generating winds of 50 mph with higher gusts. While Felicia is expected to weaken over the next couple of days, it could still reach the Islands as either a tropical depression or a tropical storm, according to the weather service.