Hurricane Nolo Brings Torrential Rain And Flooding Threat To Hawaii

Hurricane Nolo is set to ramp up into a major beast this weekend, dumping torrential rain and threatening catastrophic flooding across the Hawaiian Islands. The National Hurricane Center warns that parts of the Big Island could see up to 35 inches of precipitation before the system moves on. This storm marks Hawaii's fourth tropical threat this season in a year where the state usually sleeps through such events.

Nolo strengthened into a hurricane late Thursday and is forecast to hit Category 3 status by Saturday as it passes south of the islands. Right now, the center sits 155 miles south of South Point with winds clocking in at 105 mph, making it a Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. A Hurricane Watch covers the Big Island while Tropical Storm Warnings are active for that same landmass and Maui.

Wind gusts could push past 50 mph during this close approach to the Big Island, according to the FOX Forecast Center. Rain is already lashing the area and getting worse through Saturday. The National Hurricane Center says widespread totals of 8 to 12 inches are likely, with 18 to 24 inches possible on the eastern side. Localized pockets might exceed that 35-inch mark mentioned earlier.

Mudslides pose a grim danger because of the steep terrain found across the Big Island. Catastrophic flooding and landslides will be possible there as rain soaks into the ground. Hawaii has already felt Hurricane Lala and Hurricane Lowell recently, but a strengthening Super El Niño is fueling what looks like an endless parade of tropical systems across the Pacific.

Flood Watches are now in effect for the Big Island, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Kahoolawe through Saturday. Storm surge up to 3 feet could hit south-facing shorelines as the storm approaches from that direction. With previous storms still causing damage, this new wave of extreme rainfall threatens areas already battered by heavy rain earlier this season.

The islands face a miserable outlook as they brace for life-threatening flash floods and damaging winds. Residents should secure their homes and move to higher ground if warnings escalate. The situation remains fluid but the threat level has clearly risen for everyone in the path of Nolo.