Hurricane Nolo Pulls Away From Hawaii While Flood Risk Persists

Hurricane Nolo's maximum sustained winds rose to 115 mph on Sunday even as the storm moved away from Hawaii, according to the National Hurricane Center's Sunday advisory cited by the Associated Press. The storm sat about 365 miles south-southwest of Honolulu, drifting away from the Big Island at roughly 12 mph, but forecasters kept flash flood, high wind and high surf warnings active for parts of the island chain into Sunday evening.

How strong is Hurricane Nolo right now?

The National Hurricane Center's Sunday, September 27 update put Nolo's peak sustained winds at 115 mph, with further strengthening expected as the storm turns northwest overnight, the AP reported. The center's forecast track keeps Nolo's core well south and southwest of the main Hawaiian Islands, meaning the strongest winds should stay offshore even as outer bands soak the islands.

Why does Hawaii still face flood risk if Nolo is moving away?

Distance from a storm's center does not eliminate rain risk. Forecasters told the AP that Nolo's outer bands could dump up to 20 inches of rain on parts of the Big Island, a total capable of triggering life-threatening flash floods and mudslides on ground already saturated from earlier storms this season. Heavy rain also was forecast for the other islands, per the National Hurricane Center data relayed by the AP.

What areas are under warning, and what happened on the ground?

The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency kept a high wind warning, wind advisory and high surf advisory in effect for parts of the Big Island through Sunday evening, the AP reported. Heavy rain fell across the island's southern half Saturday afternoon, forcing partial closures of the main highway connecting Kailua-Kona and Hilo. Near Naalehu, at the island's southern tip, Hawaii Army National Guard members were seen guiding a man through flooded streets as he tried to leave his home during a downpour; more than 120 guard members were deployed to the response, according to the AP account.

"Don't venture out if you don't have to into the dangerous flooding environment, but also high winds. We can have trees and power lines down," National Hurricane Center director Michael Brennan said, as quoted by the AP.

Nolo's track was also expected to bring the storm near the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, a federally protected conservation area northwest of the main islands, early this week, per the National Hurricane Center.

How does Hurricane Polo threaten Mexico's Baja peninsula?

While Nolo pulls away from Hawaii, Hurricane Polo is approaching Mexico's Baja California peninsula, putting the region on alert, according to the AP report carried by the Guardian. The dispatch did not include Polo's wind speed or landfall timing in the figures provided.

What to watch next

• Whether Nolo's rain bands push Big Island totals toward the forecast 20-inch ceiling, raising flash-flood and mudslide risk.
• Any changes to Hawaii County's wind, surf and flood advisories as Nolo turns northwest.
• Storm-strength updates on Polo from Mexican civil protection authorities as it nears Baja California.
• Whether Nolo's path close to the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument affects the protected marine area.