Tropical Storm Nolo is strengthening in the Pacific and could become a hurricane as it approaches Hawaii’s Big Island, where forecasters have warned of potentially devastating rainfall and flooding.
The storm had maximum sustained winds of 70mph on Thursday morning, with tropical-storm-force winds extending up to 90 miles from its centre. It was about 455 miles south-south-east of Honolulu and 285 miles south of South Point on the Big Island.
Nolo is expected to move towards the Big Island on Friday and Saturday. Forecasters said it could reach hurricane strength by Thursday night and potentially become a major hurricane, classified as Category 3 or higher, by the weekend.
Hawaii faces heavy rain and mudslide threat
The Big Island is under a hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning, while a tropical storm watch is in force for Maui County.
Rainfall totals of 15 to 20 inches are expected on the Big Island, with as much as 35 inches possible in some areas. The National Hurricane Center warned that the downpours could cause “catastrophic life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain”.
Maui could receive between five and 10 inches of rain, with totals reaching up to 20 inches in some locations. The island also faces the risk of life-threatening flooding and mudslides.
The other Hawaiian islands were forecast to receive about one to three inches of rain, with isolated totals of up to six inches and a risk of localised flooding.
Nolo formed as Hurricane Polo continued to swirl in the Pacific off Mexico’s south-western coast. The storms add to an unusually active season in the region.
Earlier this month, Hurricane Lowell brought damaging winds and heavy rain to the western Hawaiian islands of Kauai and Niihau, bringing down trees, damaging roads and cutting power to thousands. Last month, Hurricane Lala washed away about 100 homes, triggered landslides and caused widespread power outages as it passed near Hawaii.
