Honolulu ? Hurricane Flossie weakened to a Category 3 storm Monday with maximum sustained winds of 126 mph as it roared toward Hawaii, but it was expected to pass less than 100 miles from the islands.

Forecasters earlier had said cooler weather would weaken the storm to a Category 1 hurricane, with sustained wind of at least 74 mph, by the time it passes about 90 miles south of the Big Island of Hawaii today.

But on Monday forecasters said they now expected a Category 3 hurricane, with little change in strength when it passes the island. Earlier in the day, Flossie had been a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph.

“The intensity has remained stronger than what was originally forecast, but the track has been pretty much right on,” said Jim Weyman, the National Weather Service’s meteorologist in charge in Honolulu.

The weather service placed the Big Island under a hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning. A flash flood watch was also issued for the island through Wednesday, with possible flash flooding in areas.