Hurricane Nolo Strengthens to Category 3 in Remote Pacific
The storm, located far west of Hawaii, is not currently a threat to populated islands but is expected to inundate low-lying atolls.
Hurricane Nolo intensified into a Category 3 storm on Saturday in the remote Pacific Ocean, far to the west of Hawaii's main islands and population centers. The storm's maximum sustained winds reached 115 mph (185 kph), according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center.
Nolo was situated approximately 210 miles south-southwest of Maro Reef and was tracking westward at 17 mph. A tropical storm warning was issued for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, a vast protected area encompassing islands, atolls, and coral reefs, extending from Maro Reef to Lisianski Island.
The National Hurricane Center indicated that large surf associated with Nolo is likely to inundate some of the low-lying atolls within the monument. However, no threat is currently forecast for any populated islands.
Forecasters expect Nolo to cross the international date line on Sunday. The storm had previously skirted Hawaii as a hurricane about a week ago, subsequently weakening to a tropical storm before regaining hurricane strength on Friday.
In a separate development, Hurricane Rachel, a Category 1 storm, continues to move westward away from the west coast of Mexico. Dangerous swells are anticipated along the coast of west-central Mexico through the weekend and along the Baja California Peninsula through Monday.