Nolo still meandering south of Hawaiʻi Island as a Category 2 hurricane

(Update: 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026) Nolo is moving slowly westward with additional heavy rain, gusty winds and large waves expected for portions of the Hawaiian Islands. Nolo is meandering south of Hawaiʻi Island as a Category 2 hurricane with 100 mph sustained winds. The system is forecast to strengthen into a major Category 3 hurricane tonight or early Sunday, and peak in intensity by early Monday, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

Nolo is moving toward the west near 3 mph and is expected to accelerate westward through the weekend. A turn toward the northwest and north-northwest is expected on Monday and Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center of Nolo will remain well south and southwest of the main Hawaiian Islands, the CPHC reports.

Additional heavy rain, gusty winds and large waves are expected for portions of the Hawaiian Islands, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.

A Hurricane Watch and Tropical Storm Warning remain in effect for Hawaiʻi County. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Maui County. Interests elsewhere in the Hawaiian Islands should closely monitor the progress of this system.

Nolo was last located about 145 miles south of South Point, Hawaiʻi Island; and 335 miles SSE of Honolulu, Oʻahu. Current movement is toward the west at 3 mph.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles.

Wind: Tropical storm conditions are occurring and hurricane-force gusts are possible in portions of the warning area in areas of steep terrain. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the tropical storm watch area beginning today. Gusts to tropical storm force are occurring in Maui County in areas of steep terrain. Regardless of the exact track of Nolo, strong and gusty winds are possible for all of the Hawaiian Islands through the weekend.

Rain: For the eastern and southern portions of the Big Island, Nolo will produce additional rainfall totals 4 to 8 inches with isolated totals of 10 inches, bringing storm totals to 10 to 20 inches with maximum amounts of 25 inches. This rainfall could produce significant, life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.

For the western portions of the Big Island, rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are expected. For eastern Maui, additional rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inches are expected, bringing storm totals to 4 to 8 inches with maximum amounts of 10 inches. Life-threatening flooding and mudslides are possible, especially in areas of high terrain. Across the remainder of the Hawaiian Islands, maximum storm total rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are expected.

Storm Surge: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide: Hawaii County (1 to 3 ft). The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast and will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.

Surf: Swells generated by Nolo are affecting exposed east- and south-facing shores of the Big Island and are expected to spread westward and build through the weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

*Maui Now’s Wendy Osher contributed to this report.