Residents of Hawaii’s Big Island prepared for flooding, high winds and dangerous surf as Hurricane Nolo moved south of the islands as the weekend approached. Forecasters expected the storm to turn west and avoid a direct hit, but warned that tropical storm conditions could begin Friday evening and hurricane conditions were possible early Saturday.
On Friday, Nolo had maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometres an hour and was about 300 kilometres south of Hawaii’s southernmost point. Forecasters said parts of the Big Island could receive up to 38 centimetres of rain, with as much as 64 centimetres possible in some places. Maui also faced a risk of heavy rainfall, flooding and mudslides. Officials warned that storm surge and large waves could flood coastal areas.
Big Island crews built berms and moved debris, while residents filled sandbags. State officials urged people to prepare emergency kits, and the governor activated more than 230 National Guard members. Some schools closed, and county officials encouraged people in flood-prone areas to consider shelters. The heaviest rain was expected in a region still wet from earlier storms.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Polo strengthened off Mexico’s Pacific coast and was forecast to approach the Baja California peninsula between Monday and Tuesday. Its estimated sustained winds reached 290 kilometres an hour. Authorities opened shelters, closed schools and ports, cleared beaches and deployed security personnel. In Lázaro Cárdenas, seawater entered homes and damaged businesses; residents began clearing mud and debris. Forecasters said moisture from Polo could bring scattered flash flooding to parts of Arizona and New Mexico by Monday.
Other storms remained active. Hurricane Odalys was far from land in the Pacific, while Tropical Storm Fay was in the northern Atlantic and Tropical Storm Gonzalo approached the Cabo Verde Islands. The report noted that El Niño can increase Pacific cyclone activity.