Hurricane Nolo forecast to bring flash flooding, extreme surf to Hawaii as state activates emergency response

The Story

Hurricane Nolo is expected to bring heavy rain, powerful winds, flash flooding and extreme surf to the Hawaiian Islands over the weekend as the storm tracks toward the area and conditions begin to worsen after earlier storms. Forecasters said the system was churning slowly south of Hawaii’s Big Island on Saturday, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 kph) and the storm’s centre about 145 miles (235 km) south of Hawaii’s southernmost point. Officials warned that Nolo could intensify into a potentially life-threatening and catastrophic storm during the weekend.

The National Hurricane Center’s Michael Brennan said residents should avoid being outside unnecessarily because the combination of flooding and high winds can bring down trees and power lines. Brennan’s warning focused on the hazards that come with both heavy rain and strong wind impacts, particularly in communities already dealing with storm effects. Forecasters also warned of possible flooding and mudslides, and parts of the Big Island were expected to receive rainfall totals up to 20 inches (51 cm), with heavy rain also anticipated on other islands.

Hawaii’s preparations include actions tied to the impacts of prior hurricanes. A humanitarian relief hub supported by CORE and other partners has been active since August’s Hurricane Lala, and the group spent the week packing and shipping supplies such as camp stoves and hygiene products by air cargo from Oahu to the Big Island. Residents are still recovering from Lala, which produced heavy rain and winds strong enough to sweep around 100 homes off their foundations on the Big Island.

Hawaii’s emergency response has been expanded as Nolo approaches. President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for the state of Hawaii, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate assistance across the federal government and provide funding support for emergency measures. At the state level, the governor issued an emergency proclamation that activated hundreds of Hawaii National Guard members.

On the ground, Hawaii County officials were urging residents in flood-prone areas to consider taking refuge at shelters being set up or other locations. Hawaiian Electric said crews that had been restoring power in Kauai following this month’s Hurricane Lowell returned to Oahu, Maui and the Big Island to prepare for Nolo. The utility’s actions reflect the likelihood that power infrastructure could face further damage if winds strengthen and heavy rain contributes to flooding.

While Nolo threatens Hawaii, another tropical system is developing across the Pacific. Mexico faces a separate risk from Hurricane Polo, which is headed toward the Baja California peninsula after bringing storm conditions to the southwestern coast. Polo had maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (249 kph) on Saturday but is expected to gradually weaken before making landfall Monday, according to the same set of storm reports.

For some Baja communities, the concern is as much about access to essentials as it is about immediate storm conditions. In San Juanico, a small fishing town on Baja’s Pacific coast, residents reported limited resilience tied to inconsistent infrastructure, including frequent power outages and difficulties storing food and pumping water without electricity. A hotel manager, Gloriely Robles Meza, said residents are worried because they have “not faced such a worrying situation in many years,” and noted that fuel can run out when demand spikes.

Residents in San Juanico described a need to prepare without widespread support from authorities, including barriers to road access during storms. Robles Meza said there is no close guarantee of help during Polo and that the town’s plan is to convert the local elementary school into a shelter. She also said she wished heavy machinery would be prepositioned to clear roads and that emergency generators would be available, citing how being cut off could affect food deliveries and other basic needs.

A separate perspective came from Jeffrey Westman, an American who has owned property in San Juanico for about 40 years and said he is concerned about the town’s ability to receive supplies and reach medical care if washed-out roads block access. Westman said the closest medical facility is about 80 minutes away in Ciudad Constitución and expressed hope that Polo weakens before reaching the Baja coastline, comparing the storm to past events that “start petering out” as they approach the coast.