Hawaii Braces for Hurricane Nolo as Flooding Threat Looms
Hurricane Nolo is expected to bring flash floods and extreme surf to Hawaii, with up to 25 inches of rain possible on the Big Island.
Hawaii residents are preparing for another potentially life-threatening storm as Hurricane Nolo churns just south of the islands, forecast to bring flash floods and extreme surf through the weekend.
Nolo was expected to strengthen into a major hurricane on Saturday. Its maximum sustained winds rose to 105 mph (165 kph) on Friday, with the storm's center located about 145 miles (235 kilometers) south of Hawaii's southernmost point.
Forecasters warned that parts of the Big Island could receive rainfall totals of up to 15 inches (38 centimeters), with isolated amounts possibly reaching 25 inches (64 centimeters). That is lower than an earlier projection of up to 35 inches (89 centimeters).
President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for Hawaii on Friday, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate assistance across the federal government and provide funding for emergency measures.
State officials urged residents to assemble emergency kits, while the governor issued an emergency proclamation activating more than 230 Hawaii National Guard members. Schools were closed in some areas.
Local residents Nicole and Tony Nastasi said they have experienced hurricanes before but not in Hawaii. Tony Nastasi said he expected the storm to be mostly a rain event, with rivers near Hilo at risk of overflowing their banks.
"The rivers were pretty wild with Lala," Nicole Nastasi said, referring to a previous storm. The couple, who moved from Houston, said they were still adjusting to Hawaii's storm patterns.
Tony Nastasi said the main concern was water and flooding, noting that a region they visited weeks earlier had only recently regained power and remained heavily damaged. He said he hoped the island would not face a similar outcome.
Asked about their plans, he said Nicole has a hospital appointment on Saturday and he hopes to get her there without difficulty, after which they intend to stay out of the way so crews can check power lines and carry out other recovery work.
The storm is unfolding against a backdrop of wider climate shifts linked to El Niño, which tends to suppress Atlantic hurricane activity while boosting tropical cyclone formation in the Pacific through moist air and low wind shear.