Hurricanes Nolo and Polo Threaten Hawaii and Mexico

Residents along Mexico’s west coast are fortifying their businesses and evacuating homes as Hurricane Polo slams the nation’s coastline, while Hawaii’s Big Island and Maui brace for potentially catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Nolo. Both storms are churning in the Pacific, posing significant threats on Thursday.

Hurricane Polo, which has fluctuated between Category 4 and 5 strength, is expected to bring torrential flooding and landslides to Mexico. In the port city of Lázaro Cárdenas, seawater has already inundated homes, leaving debris strewn across streets. Mexican authorities have deployed 15,000 security personnel along the coast and suspended schools.

Coastal residents in Mexico are attempting to protect their businesses from the storm’s impact. In Lázaro Cárdenas, a city in Michoacán, workers and soldiers were seen clearing debris and mud from streets and damaged structures. Alicia Contreras, a restaurant owner, reported severe damage to her establishment from 15-foot waves, expressing concern about her livelihood.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Nolo has become a hurricane in the Pacific Ocean and is projected to strengthen as it moves toward Hawaii’s Big Island. Forecasters predict rainfall totals of 15 to 30 inches on the Big Island, with potentially higher amounts through Saturday. The island of Maui could also experience life-threatening floods. This comes as Hawaii has already faced significant flooding, an earthquake, and two other hurricanes since mid-August.

John Bravender, the National Weather Service’s warning coordination meteorologist in Hawaii, noted the unprecedented nature of the multiple hurricane watches in a single year. The heaviest rainfall from Nolo is anticipated to impact the same southeastern region of the Big Island that was affected by Hurricane Lala in August, areas still saturated from previous rainfall. Hawaiian officials have urged residents to prepare emergency kits and have activated over 230 Hawaii National Guard members. Schools have been closed for the remainder of the week.

Hawaiian Electric is preparing its crews to restore power on Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island, recalling teams that had been assisting with power restoration in Kauai after Hurricane Lowell.

Further out in the Pacific, Hurricane Odalys is located far from land. In the northern Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Storm Fay re-formed and is situated west-southwest of the Azores. Tropical Storm Gonzalo also formed off the coast of West Africa and is expected to pass near or over the Cape Verde Islands.

The current hurricane activity is occurring amid the backdrop of the El Niño weather phenomenon, which traditionally increases tropical cyclone activity in the Pacific while typically dampening Atlantic hurricane seasons. El Niño has been linked to major environmental shifts globally, contributing to both droughts and floods.