Hurricane Nolo moved west south of Hawaii on Saturday, September 26, sparing the islands a direct strike while its rain bands flooded roads on the Big Island. The Associated Press reported that the storm still threatened flash flooding, damaging winds and dangerous surf. The National Hurricane Center said Nolo had sustained winds near 90 mph, or 150 km/h, in its late-morning advisory.
The storm had approached from the south, prompting officials to prepare for severe weather across Hawaii. Forecasters canceled a hurricane watch after its center turned away, but the change in track did not remove the threat from its outer bands. The hurricane center placed Nolo about 160 miles, or 260 kilometers, south of South Point at 11 a.m. Hawaii time Saturday and said it was moving slowly west.
Heavy rain fell across the southern Big Island, and flooding led to partial closures of the main highway linking Kailua-Kona and Hilo, according to AP. Near Naalehu, Hawaii Army National Guard members helped a resident leave amid rising water. AP reported that more than 120 guard members were activated on the Big Island, among roughly 400 activated statewide under a state emergency proclamation.
Forecasters said parts of the Big Island could receive up to 20 inches, or 51 centimeters, of rain from the storm. Such rainfall could trigger dangerous flash floods and mudslides, particularly on steep terrain, even without a landfall. Officials also warned of large waves and hazardous coastal conditions. The National Hurricane Center urged people to follow local weather alerts as the storm passed to the south.
The response comes while some Big Island communities are still recovering from Hurricane Lala in August. AP reported that Lala swept about 100 homes off their foundations. President Donald Trump approved a federal emergency declaration for Hawaii on Friday, allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate assistance. Stores boarded up and events were canceled as residents prepared for Nolo.
Nolo was forecast to strengthen into a major hurricane late Sunday or early Monday while continuing west to the south of the islands, AP reported. Its exact effects on land remained dependent on the path of the rain bands and local terrain. Emergency teams and residents were watching for additional flooding, road closures and power disruptions as the storm moved away.
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