Hurricane Nolo continued to move away from the Hawaiian Islands on Sunday, but the storm's outer bands still posed a threat of heavy rain, flash flooding, and strong winds, particularly to areas still recovering from previous storms.
By Sunday morning, Nolo was located about 260 miles southwest of Hawaii’s southernmost point, moving northwest at approximately 12 mph. Despite the storm's center tracking away from the Big Island, a high wind warning, wind advisory, and high surf advisory remained in effect for parts of the island through Sunday evening. Nolo's maximum sustained winds had increased to near 105 mph.
Forecasters anticipated Nolo would strengthen further and turn northwest, though its center was expected to stay well south and southwest of the main Hawaiian Islands. The storm was projected to approach the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument early in the week. The National Hurricane Center warned that Nolo's outer bands could bring life-threatening flooding and mudslides, with up to 20 inches of rain possible on the Big Island, and heavy rain expected on other islands as well.
"Don’t venture out if you don’t have to into the dangerous flooding environment, but also high winds. We can have trees and power lines down," said Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center.
Heavy rain had already caused partial closures of a main highway on the Big Island on Saturday afternoon. On the island's southern tip, near Naalehu, National Guard members were seen assisting residents navigate flooded streets. More than 120 National Guard members were activated on the Big Island, part of roughly 400 statewide following an emergency proclamation by the governor. Residents were still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Lala, which had previously caused about 100 homes to be swept from their foundations on the Big Island.
Shop owners had boarded up businesses, and events were canceled in anticipation of Nolo's impact. President Donald Trump had previously approved an emergency declaration, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate assistance and provide funding support. Hawaiian Electric reported that crews who had been restoring power in Kauai after Hurricane Lowell returned to Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island to prepare for Nolo.
The Pacific hurricane season has been unusually active, with storm activity running above average, a pattern consistent with El Niño years, according to National Weather Service lead forecaster Bob Oravec.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Polo, a dangerous Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 125 mph, was on a forecast path toward Mexico's Baja California peninsula. As of Sunday afternoon, Polo was located about 285 miles west-southwest of Cabo San Lucas and moving north-northwest at 12 mph. Mexico's National Meteorological Service indicated Polo was expected to make landfall on the Baja peninsula on Monday.
The Mexican navy had gathered personnel and humanitarian aid in the ports of Guaymas and Mazatlan, deploying vessels to transport aid to coastal communities potentially isolated by the hurricane. Communities like San Juanico, a small fishing town on Baja’s Pacific coast, expressed concern about the approaching storm, particularly regarding access to medical facilities if roads become impassable.
Mexican Army personnel arrived in San Juanico to prepare a shelter and provide support, and an electrical crew was also on site to prepare for Polo’s arrival. Separately, Tropical Storm Rachel formed off Mexico’s southwest coast with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, though no coastal watches or warnings were in effect for that system.