Hurricane Nolo was moving away from the Hawaiian islands on Sunday, yet the threat of heavy rain, flash flooding and strong winds remained in areas still recovering from earlier storms. The system sat about 365 miles south‑south‑west of Honolulu, drifting away from the Big Island at roughly 12 mph. Despite the retreat, the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency kept a high wind warning, wind advisory and high surf advisory in effect for parts of the chain through Sunday evening as Nolo’s maximum sustained winds climbed to 115 mph.
Forecasters expected the storm to strengthen further and turn northwest by Sunday night, although the National Hurricane Center noted that the eye would stay well south and southwest of the islands. Nolo’s outer bands could bring life‑threatening flooding and mudslides, with the Big Island potentially receiving up to 20 inches of rain. The storm was also projected to approach the Papahānaumokuākea marine national monument early in the week.
Heavy rain fell across the southern Big Island on Saturday afternoon, prompting partial closures of the main highway between Kailua‑Kona and Hilo. National Guard members were seen guiding a driver through flooded streets near Naalehu, and more than 120 guard personnel were activated on the island, part of a statewide force of roughly 400 after the governor issued an emergency proclamation. Residents, still healing from Hurricane Lala, reported power outages and cancelled events, with shop owners boarding up businesses.
President Trump recently approved an emergency declaration, allowing FEMA to coordinate assistance and provide funding. Hawaiian Electric said crews were restoring power in Kauai after this month’s Hurricane Lowell and were also responding to Nolo’s impact on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island. Meanwhile, Baja California’s coast awaited the arrival of Hurricane Polo, a Category 3 storm with 125 mph winds, which the Mexican National Meteorological Service expected to make landfall on Monday. The Mexican navy and army have gathered aid and prepared shelters in towns such as San Juanico, while Tropical Storm Rachel formed off the southwest coast, though no coastal watches were in effect.
