Hurricane Nolo has strengthened into a major Category 3 storm as it traverses the remote Pacific Ocean, well to the west of Hawaii’s main islands and population centers. According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, the system’s maximum sustained winds rapidly intensified to 115 mph (185 kph) on Saturday.
The storm was positioned approximately 210 miles (335 kilometers) south-southwest of Maro Reef and was moving westward at 17 mph (28 kph). Officials issued a tropical storm warning for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, a vast federally protected area encompassing islands, atolls, seamounts, shoals, and coral reefs, stretching from Maro Reef to Lisianski Island.
The hurricane center cautioned that large surf associated with Nolo could inundate some of the low-lying atolls within the monument. However, officials confirmed there is no forecasted threat to any populated islands.
Nolo is expected to cross the international date line on Sunday. The storm previously made headlines a week ago when it skirted Hawaii as a hurricane before weakening to a tropical storm and then regaining hurricane strength on Friday.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Rachel, currently a Category 1 storm, continues its westward path away from the west coast of Mexico. Dangerous swells are forecast for the coast of west-central Mexico through the weekend and for the Baja California Peninsula through Monday, according to the hurricane center.
Meanwhile, Rachel is making waves for Mexico. Two storms at once—busy season indeed. Glad Hawaii is safe though.
Not the first time Nolo caused a stir. I hope those low-lying atolls are okay with the large surf threat.
Did it really just get stronger after weakening last week? Mother nature is unpredictable lately.
Good news that it’s staying in the remote Pacific. That monument is precious and deserves protection from the rough surf.