Hurricane Nolo weakened to 90 mph Saturday as forecasters discontinued the hurricane watch for Hawaiʻi County, a material reduction in the island’s wind threat even as a tropical-storm warning and dangerous flood conditions remained in force. The 11 a.m. HST NHC advisory placed the center about 160 miles south of South Point and 340 miles south-southeast of Honolulu, moving west at 5 mph.
The change came less than three hours after Nolo was reported at 100 mph and producing tropical-storm conditions, the central development in TAQ’s report earlier Saturday. The new advisory removed the possibility of hurricane conditions from Hawaiʻi County’s formal watch package, but it did not lift the tropical-storm warning for the Big Island or the tropical-storm watch for Maui County.
The National Hurricane Center said Nolo’s center should remain well south and southwest of the main Hawaiian Islands as the storm accelerates west through the weekend. That track lowers the risk of the hurricane’s core reaching land. The storm’s broad rain bands, wind field and surf, however, extend far beyond the eye and continue to affect the state.
Wind threat eases, flood danger persists
Nolo’s maximum winds fell 10 mph from the 8 a.m. intermediate advisory, while the center moved about 15 miles farther south of South Point. The center’s westward motion is the key change: it is now carrying Nolo away from Hawaiʻi Island rather than leaving the storm nearly stationary just offshore. The latest forecast track still allows Nolo to strengthen over open water on Sunday, but current guidance keeps the hurricane’s center away from the island chain.
Rain remains the principal land hazard. Forecasters expect another 3 to 6 inches across eastern and southern Hawaiʻi Island, bringing storm totals to 10 to 20 inches with isolated amounts of 25 inches. The NHC said those totals could produce significant, life-threatening flooding and mudslides on steep terrain. Eastern Maui could receive another 1 to 2 inches, for storm totals of 4 to 8 inches.
A Maui alert kept a flood watch in effect through 6 p.m. HST for the Big Island, Maui, Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi and Kahoʻolawe. It warned that saturated ground leaves windward and southeastern Hawaiʻi Island particularly exposed to overflowing streams, road closures and landslides. The NHC separately said the significant storm-surge threat had diminished, although elevated coastal water, dangerous waves and rip currents would continue.
Road and port disruptions remain
The improving track had not ended operational disruptions. Hawaiʻi’s transportation dashboard listed Hawaiʻi Belt Road closed near Kaʻawaliʻi Gulch after a rockfall and Kohala Mountain Road closed because of high winds. Hilo and Kawaihae commercial harbors also remained closed, while Hilo and Kona airports were open with travelers advised to check directly with airlines.
Air travel remained subject to disruption across the state. Delta maintained a travel waiver for Honolulu, Kona and Kahului for trips scheduled Saturday and Sunday. The waiver does not establish that a particular flight is canceled; passengers must confirm the status of their own itinerary.
What the downgrade means
The discontinued hurricane watch is the clearest official signal yet that damaging hurricane-force winds are less likely on Hawaiʻi Island under the current track. It is not an all-clear. Tropical-storm conditions were still occurring in parts of the Big Island, and the remaining warning means sustained winds of at least 39 mph are expected somewhere in the warning area.
The NHC scheduled an intermediate advisory for 2 p.m. HST and a full advisory for 5 p.m. HST. Until local warnings are lifted, residents remain under the state’s active storm instructions: monitor county alerts, avoid flooded roads and stay away from exposed shorelines. The immediate hurricane-wind risk has eased, but Nolo’s accumulated rain and unstable slopes leave a slower-moving hazard that can persist after the center moves away.
