+34
Hurricane Nolo is gaining intensity south of the Hawaiian Islands, bringing risks of flash floods, mudslides, and high winds to areas still recovering from recent storms. While a direct landfall is not expected, forecasters warn of life-threatening flooding with rainfall totals up to 20 inches on the Big Island.
Kenzielynn Kekoa, center, of Hilo, Hawaii, helps her family fill sand bags as Hurricane Nolo approaches in Hilo, Hawaii, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. just skirted the Hawaii an Islands as it gained intensity on Saturday, but officials said it still posed a risk for flash floods, dangerous winds and extreme surf in areas recovering from previous storms.
Nolo was churning very slowly south of the Big Island with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph . Its center was about 160 miles south-southwest of Hawaii’s southernmost point, and it was forecast to strengthen into a major hurricane late Sunday and early Monday while traveling westward to the south of the islands. A hurricane watch was canceled, and direct landfall by the storm’s center was not expected.
But forecasters said its outer bands could cause life-threatening flooding and mudslides, with parts of the Big Island expected to see rainfall totals up to 20 inches . Heavy rain also was expected on the other islands.
“Don’t venture out if you don’t have to into the dangerous flooding environment, but also high winds. We can have trees and power lines down,” said Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center. A lifeguard walks back to his tower after adjusting a beach closure sign as Hurricane Nolo sits nearby Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Hilo, Hawaii.
The humanitarian nonprofit group CORE and other partners spent the week packing and shipping supplies like camp stoves and hygiene products by air cargo from Oahu to the Big Island for a community relief hub that has been active since August’sResidents are still recovering from Lala, which produced heavy rain and winds strong enough to sweep about 100 homes off their foundations on the Big Island. About a dozen people were in the water Saturday morning at Carlsmith Beach Park in Hilo on the Big Island, despite signs saying the strand was closed.
Andrea Gill was out for her regular swim before heading back home to hunker down with family.
“I hope it stops just sitting there and moves and goes somewhere else,” Gill said of the slow-moving storm. Shop owners boarded up businesses, and events were canceled. Gill said storms are common, but hurricanes are rare. She was holding out hope that the islands might not get the full impact.
“We’re used to lots of rain. We’re not used to wind. So it’s always a blessing when we don’t get the wind from the hurricane,” she said. A man crosses the road as Hurricane Nolo sits nearby Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Hilo, Hawaii.
approved an emergency declaration for the state Friday, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate assistance and provide funding support. Hawaii officials told residents to put together emergency kits, and the governor issued an emergency proclamation, activating hundreds of Hawaii National Guard members. Hawaii County authorities on the Big Island urged people in flood-prone areas to consider taking refuge at shelters or elsewhere.
Hawaiian Electric, the state’s primary utility, said crews helping restore power in Kauai after this month’s Hurricane Lowell returned to Oahu, Maui and the Big Island in preparation for the storm. The Pacific has been unusually active this season, according to National Weather Service lead forecaster Bob Oravec, with storm activity running above average during what is already the peak of hurricane season.
He said that pattern is consistent with El Niño years, when the Pacific often sees more tropical storms and hurricanes. Meanwhile Mexico was under the threat ofas it headed toward the Baja California Peninsula after bringing storm conditions to the southwestern coast. Polo had maximum sustained winds of 140 mph , making it a Category 4 storm, but it was expected to weaken somewhat before making landfall Monday.
One of the towns in the hurricanes projected path is San Juanico, a small fishing community on Baja’s Pacific coast where access to basic needs is already fickle.
“Our people are concerned about this event,” said Gloriely Robles Meza, a manager at a small hotel. “We haven’t faced such a worrying situation in many years. ”A man walks among rocks while fishing as Hurricane Nolo sits nearby Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Hilo, Hawaii. The town has only had full-time electricity for a couple of years, and it still experiences frequent outages.
Without power, residents can’t refrigerate food or pump water. The closest gas station is so far away that fuel is stored in and sold from tanks, and supply frequently runs out if there is high demand. Robles Meza said the community feels left to brace itself for the storm without the help of authorities.
“We must prepare on our own — each of us protecting our homes and belongings,” she said, adding that she wished officials would preposition heavy machinery for clearing roads, along with emergency generators. “While this is important, we also have other impacts to consider,” Robles Meza said, like what the town will do if it is cut off from help.
San Juanico has experienced late-summer storms, but Polo feels different, said Jeffrey Westman, an American who was first drawn to the town’s world-class surf break 40 years ago and owns a property there.
“During the last couple of years, the storms have felt big and strong and scary,” said Westman, 63, who was in Europe at the moment but worried for the locals, particularly about their ability to receive food deliveries or reach larger grocery stores if road access is cut off. Washed-out roads could also block access to the closest medical facility, about 80 minutes away in Ciudad Constitucion.
Westman said hopes Polo behaves as some past storms have, losing intensity before reaching the peninsula. ___
Hurricane Nolo Hawaii Flash Floods Big Island Storm Warning
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Hurricane Nolo threatens Hawaii with catastrophic flooding as Hurricane Polo nears MexicoHurricane Nolo is forecast to bring up to 25 inches of rain and life-threatening flooding to Hawaii's Big Island, while Hurricane Polo strengthens to Category 5 near Mexico's Baja California Peninsula.
Read more »
Hurricane Nolo threatens Hawaii with catastrophic flooding as Polo nears MexicoHurricane Nolo is expected to bring life-threatening flooding and extreme surf to Hawaii's Big Island, while Hurricane Polo approaches Mexico's Baja California peninsula after reaching Category 5 strength.
Read more »
Hurricane Nolo heads toward Hawaii, while Hurricane Polo threatens Mexico's Baja California PeninsulaPeople on Hawaii's Big Island are preparing for another potentially life-threatening and catastrophic storm as Hurricane Nolo is expected to bring flash floods and extreme surf as it churns just south of the islands through the weekend.
Read more »
Hurricane Nolo to Hit Hawaii with 105 mph Winds, 20 Inches of RainHurricane Nolo is forecast to bring flash floods, mudslides and extreme surf to Hawaii, while Hurricane Polo threatens Mexico's Baja California peninsula.
Read more »