Honolulu Star-Advertiser-Hurricane Watch
"Hurricane watch issued for Hawaii County as Nolo approaches."
Views expressed in this Hawaii News update are those of the reporters and correspondents. Accessed on 25 September 2026, 0123 UTC.
Content and Source: "Honolulu Star-Advertiser."
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Russ Roberts (https://hawaiinewsmonitor.blogspot.com).
Hurricane watch in effect for Hawaii County as Nolo approaches
COURTESY CPHC
The five-day forecast cone for Tropical Storm Nolo as of 2 p.m. today.
UPDATE: 2 p.m.
A hurricane watch and tropical storm warning remain in effect for Hawaii County, as Tropical Storm Nolo is forecast to pass near or just south of Hawaii island on Saturday as a major hurricane. A tropical storm watch remains in effect for Maui County.
A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area, while a tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours of the warning area. A tropical storm watch means tropical storm conditions are possible within 48 hours within the watch area.
As of 2 p.m. today, Nolo was located about 285 miles south of South Point and about 460 miles south-southeast of Honolulu. Nolo was carrying maximum sustained winds of 70 mph with higher gusts and moving north-northeast at 3 mph. Nolo is likely to become a hurricane by tonight and a major hurricane this weekend.
Nolo is forecast to generate heavy rainfall for Hawaii island as much as 35 inches, and as much as 20 inches are expected on Maui. Rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches, with a maximum of 6 inches, are expected across the other Hawaiian Islands.
“The storm has been moving erratically during the day, but appears to finally be moving slowly northward,” according to the latest forecast. “There is no change the synoptic reasoning with a mid-latitude trough near the northwestern Hawaiian Islands causing Nolo to accelerate north-northeastward during the next day or so. The trough should move away by the weekend and be replaced by a ridge, forcing a sharp westward turn on Saturday.”
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Swells generated by Nolo are forecast to reach the east- and south-facing shores of Hawaii island by Friday, spreading westward and growing over the weekend.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from the center.
Noon
The National Weather Service has expanded its marine advisories as Tropical Storm Nolo approaches the Big Island, with small craft advisories now covering waters around Kauai and Oahu and additional tropical storm watches taking effect Friday around Maui County.
A small craft advisory is in effect for the northwest, windward and leeward waters of Kauai from 6 a.m. Friday through 6 p.m. Saturday, with northeast winds up to 30 knots and seas of 7 to 12 feet.
The advisory also covers the Kauai Channel, and the windward and leeward waters of Oahu through 6 p.m. Saturday. Those areas could see northeast winds of 25 to 30 knots and seas of 9 to 14 feet.
For the Kaiwi Channel and Maui County waters, a tropical storm watch begins at 6 a.m. Friday, with east winds of 25 to 35 knots and seas of 9 to 14 feet. The existing small craft advisory remains in effect until then.
The NWS also canceled the gale watch for Maalaea Bay and the Pailolo Channel, replacing it with a tropical storm watch that begins at 6 a.m. Friday. Those waters could see east winds up to 40 knots and seas of 6 to 11 feet.
For waters surrounding the Big Island, the tropical storm warning and hurricane watch remain scheduled to begin at 6 a.m. Friday, with east winds of 35 to 45 knots and seas of 15 to 20 feet.
11 a.m.
The National Weather Service updated its outlook for Tropical Storm Nolo, issuing a tropical storm warning for Hawaii County and a tropical storm watch for Maui County.
As of 11 a.m., Nolo’s maximum sustained winds had increased to 70 mph, up from 60 mph at 5 a.m., according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.
The storm remained centered about 285 miles south of South Point and 455 miles south-southeast of Honolulu, but had begun creeping north at 2 mph after sitting nearly stationary overnight.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from Nolo’s center.
Forecasters said tropical storm conditions are expected to begin on the Big Island by late Friday, with hurricane conditions possible by early Saturday. Tropical storm conditions could reach Maui County beginning Saturday.
The CPHC also raised its rainfall outlook for the Big Island, now forecasting storm-total rainfall of 15 to 30 inches, up from the earlier 15-to-20-inch range, with a maximum of 35 inches still possible in isolated areas. Maui’s rainfall forecast held steady at 5 to 10 inches, with localized amounts up to 20 inches.
A National Weather Service statement for the Kona area said the wind threat “has increased from the previous assessment,” urging residents to plan for wind equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane or higher and to urgently complete remaining preparations.
Nolo remains on track to become a hurricane tonight and a major hurricane as it nears the Big Island Saturday, forecasters said.
The current five-day forecast shows Nolo as a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph and within 100 miles of South Point on Saturday morning. Nolo is then expected to start moving west and strengthen to 120 mph maximum sustained winds as it passes further south of the smaller islands. The hurricane is expected to be roughly 240 miles south of Oahu on Sunday as it continues to move west.
EARLIER COVERAGE
Tropical Storm Nolo continued to strengthen south of the Hawaiian islands this morning, with heavy rainfall expected to reach the Big Island later today and a hurricane warning potentially coming later today, according to weather officials.
As of 5 a.m., Tropical Storm Nolo was stationary about 285 miles south of South Point and 455 miles south-southeast of Honolulu, carrying maximum sustained winds of 60 mph, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said. The storm is expected to begin moving north to north-northeast later today through Friday before making a sharp turn to the west near the Big Island on Saturday.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from Nolo’s center.
A hurricane watch remains in effect for Hawaii County. Hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area, with dangerous winds potentially reaching the Big Island as early as Friday night, according to the National Weather Service. Some areas could see winds exceeding 110 mph, particularly in higher elevations and other areas where the track brings the strongest winds ashore.
A flood watch remains in effect through Saturday afternoon for the Big Island, Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe. NWS officials said deep tropical moisture associated with Nolo will bring heavy showers to the Big Island later today and tonight, with the greatest flooding threat on windward and southeast slopes.
Storm-total rainfall of 15 to 20 inches is possible on the Big Island, with localized amounts of 35 inches, while Maui could receive 5 to 10 inches with localized amounts of 20 inches, the NWS said. The rainfall could cause life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides, including in areas not normally prone to flooding.
Coastal and marine hazards are also increasing across the islands. Small craft advisories remain in effect for several waters, while hurricane conditions are expected in offshore waters south of the Big Island and a hurricane warning is in effect for offshore waters beyond 40 nautical miles.
“Conditions appear to be coming together for rapid intensification,” the CPHC said, with Nolo expected to become a hurricane by tonight and potentially reach major hurricane strength as it approaches the Big Island this weekend.
The track forecast remains more uncertain than normal because of differences among forecast models and the potential effects of the Big Island’s terrain. NWS officials said a track closer to the island could substantially increase the threat of damaging winds, particularly over higher terrain, exposed ridges and areas downwind of ridges.
Forecasters said interests elsewhere in Hawaii should closely monitor the latest updates and have emergency plans in place, noting tropical storm watches could be issued for other islands later today or Friday.
NWS officials urged Big Island residents to complete preparations now as rainfall increases today and Friday. The latest local statement says damaging tropical-storm-force winds could reach the island as early as midday Friday, with hurricane-force winds possible by Friday night.
The combination of storm surge and high tides could inundate normally dry coastal areas of the Big Island, with water reaching 1 to 3 feet above ground in some locations. The greatest coastal water levels are expected along the immediate shoreline, where surge could be accompanied by large waves.
Swells generated by Nolo are expected to reach exposed east and south shores of the Big Island by Friday and spread westward while building through the weekend, producing life-threatening surf and dangerous rip currents.
Tornadoes and large waterspouts also will be possible, mainly over and near the Big Island, the NWS said.
Nolo is expected to continue strengthening while moving slowly north toward the Big Island through Friday before turning west Friday night. NWS officials said impacts could continue through the weekend and urged residents across Hawaii to monitor the storm’s progress.
For Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai and Maui, expect partly to mostly cloudy skies today with scattered showers, becoming more frequent over windward areas and spreading to leeward locations later today as moisture increases from the east. Tradewind flow will persist at 15 to 25 mph, with gusts to 30 mph through coastal channels. High temperatures will range from 84 to 89 degrees.
For the Big Island, conditions will deteriorate throughout the day. Skies will be mostly cloudy with deep tropical moisture bringing heavy showers and localized thunderstorms, particularly across windward and southeastern sectors. Windward and southeast areas will see northeast winds of 20 to 30 mph with higher gusts, while interior and summit areas could see stronger localized wind gusts. High temperatures will reach 78 to 85 degrees at lower elevations.
