At 19/15Z, the un-named STS designated as 98C was located over 1,200 miles west of the Hawaiian Islands at 21.2N 179.1E moving to the south. The system is acquiring tropical characteristics and is expected to become a tropical cyclone. The system already has gale force winds and a well defined center with excellent banding structure. CPHC anticipates that the system will begin moving to the southeast and as soon as it crosses east of 180 degrees it will fall under the responsibility of CPHC (and at that time I suspect that it will be named 'Omeka').

Latest from CPHC Honolulu:
"Issued: Dec 19, 2010 2:00 am HST

For the central north Pacific, between 140Â°W and 180.

1. A gale low located just west of the international dateline about 525 miles south southwest of Midway atoll, which is moving toward the south at less 10 mph, continues to exhibit tropical characteristics as it moves over warmer waters. This system is maintaining a persistent ring of thunderstorms surrounding its well defined center. Forecast models indicate this system will turn back toward the southeast or east today, which will likely bring it back into the Central Pacific Hurricane Center area of responsibility later today or tonight. There is a high chance, 90 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours."