Hurricane Nolo stalls south of Hawaiĩ Island as Category 2, forecast to intensify
Hurricane Nolo remains nearly stationary south of Hawaiĩ Island with 100 mph winds and is expected to strengthen to Category 3 by early Monday, prompting watches and warnings for several counties.
Hurricane Nolo is moving slowly westward while remaining nearly stationary south of Hawaiĩ Island, maintaining Category 2 strength with sustained winds of about 100 mph, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said. The agency forecasts the storm will intensify to a major Category 3 hurricane later tonight or early Sunday and reach peak intensity by early Monday.
The system is expected to pick up forward speed later today and on Sunday, then turn northwest and north-northwest on Monday and Tuesday, keeping its center well south and southwest of the main Hawaiian Islands, according to the forecast track.
The National Weather Service warned of additional heavy rain, gusty winds and large waves for parts of the islands. A Hurricane Watch and Tropical Storm Warning remain in effect for Hawaiĩ County, while a Tropical Storm Watch covers Maui County. Residents elsewhere in the archipelago are advised to monitor the storm closely.
Nolo was located about 145 miles south of South Point on Hawaiĩ Island and 335 miles south-southeast of Honolulu, moving west at roughly 3 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend up to 45 miles from the center, with tropical-storm-force winds reaching out about 140 miles.
Rainfall forecasts call for 4 to 8 inches of additional rain on the eastern and southern Big Island, with isolated amounts up to 10 inches, potentially raising total storm rainfall to 10-20 inches and maximums of 25 inches. The western Big Island may see 1 to 3 inches, while eastern Maui could receive 1 to 2 inches, bringing totals to 4-8 inches and peaks of 10 inches. The remainder of the islands are expected to receive 1 to 3 inches.
Storm surge combined with high tide could flood normally dry coastal areas, with water levels potentially rising 1 to 3 feet above ground in Hawaiĩ County. Large, dangerous waves are also anticipated along the immediate coast.
Swells generated by Nolo are already affecting exposed east- and south-facing shores of the Big Island and are expected to spread westward, creating hazardous surf and rip-current conditions through the weekend.
"The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded," the forecast notes.