Storm Nolo Transitions From Hurricane to Typhoon Over Pacific

The storm previously known as Hurricane Nolo has officially transitioned to Typhoon Nolo after crossing the international dateline in the Pacific Ocean. The powerful system remains strong but is no longer classified as a hurricane.

As of Sunday, Typhoon Nolo was situated approximately 395 miles (640 kilometers) west-southwest of Lisianski Island and was moving westward at 17 mph (28 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The storm had rapidly intensified on Saturday, reaching Category 3 hurricane strength. At the time of its name change, Nolo sustained maximum winds of 115 mph (185 kph).

John Cangialosi, a senior hurricane specialist with the National Hurricane Center, noted that the storm's current location over a vast ocean means it poses no immediate threat to land. "The good news is there’s a large, vast ocean, so even though it is still going to be strong, it’s not near any land," Cangialosi stated.

Tropical cyclones are named differently depending on their geographical location. Systems with winds exceeding 74 mph (119 kph) are called hurricanes in the North Atlantic Ocean and the central and eastern Pacific. They are designated typhoons in the Northwest Pacific, while the South Pacific and Indian Ocean use the general term tropical cyclone regardless of intensity.

Forecasters anticipate Typhoon Nolo will continue its westward track across the Pacific and is not expected to make landfall through Friday. The storm had previously skirted Hawaii as a hurricane about a week ago, then weakened to a tropical storm before regaining hurricane strength on Friday.

In other Pacific weather, Hurricane Rachel continued its westward path away from Mexico. This storm was generating dangerous waves and swells along the coast of west-central Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula as it moved further offshore.