Tropical Storm Nolo expected to intensify into a hurricane, prompting statewide closures
The National Hurricane Center forecasts that Tropical Storm Nolo will reach hurricane strength by Thursday night and could become a major hurricane, leading Hawaii officials to close schools and government offices as heavy rain and flooding threaten the islands.
Tropical Storm Nolo, currently moving toward Hawaii, is projected to strengthen into a hurricane by Thursday night and may become a Category 3 or higher system by the weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm, located about 460 miles south-southeast of Honolulu, is expected to bring extreme rainfall, with forecasts of up to 35 inches on the windward slopes of the Big Island and 20 inches on Maui, raising the risk of flash flooding and mudslides in steep terrain.
State Governor Josh Green announced that all state and county offices, public schools and University of Hawai‘i facilities on the Big Island will be closed on Thursday and Friday, with Maui County closures extending to Friday. > "The closures are intended to keep residents off the roads, give families time to prepare and allow emergency personnel to respond safely as heavy rain, damaging winds, flooding and other hazardous conditions threaten both counties," Green said in a social-media post.
The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency warned residents and visitors to treat the threat seriously, noting that hurricane-force winds could exceed 75 mph on the Big Island Friday and Saturday. A flood watch is in effect for the major islands, and officials anticipate catastrophic flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.
Meteorologists attribute the busy Pacific season partly to an ongoing El Niño event, which creates warm water and low wind shear that favor tropical cyclone formation. This is the seventh tropical system to affect Hawaii in the 2026 season.