Felicia weakens to tropical storm

August 10, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii braced for Tropical Storm Felicia on Sunday, taking no chances even though the storm weakened rapidly as it slipped toward the islands.

Felicia was downgraded to a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph with higher gusts. It’s expected to weaken even more before hitting Hawaii late today, when it is expected to be either a tropical storm or depression.

Parts of Hawaii were under a tropical-storm watch.

Felicia peaked Thursday as a Category 4 storm with winds topping 140 mph.