Hurricane Nolo strengthened into a hurricane on Thursday, September 24, 2026, as it moved across the Pacific Ocean toward Hawaii. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that the storm could reach major hurricane status—defined as Category 3 or higher—by the weekend, threatening the Big Island with heavy rainfall and potential flooding.
This development follows an active Pacific hurricane season that has already seen impacts on Hawaii from Hurricane Lala and Hurricane Lowell. Last month, Hurricane Lala washed away approximately 100 homes and caused widespread power outages, while Hurricane Lowell brought down trees and damaged roads on Kauai and Niihau earlier in September.
As of Thursday evening, Nolo recorded maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, with tropical-storm-force winds extending 105 miles from its center. The storm's core was located approximately 450 miles south-southeast of Honolulu and 270 miles south of South Point. Forecasters expect the center of the storm to approach the Big Island on Friday and Saturday, skirting just to the south.
The Big Island is currently under a hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning, while a tropical storm watch has been issued for Maui County. State officials announced the closure of all state parks on the Big Island on Thursday, with Maui state parks scheduled to close on Friday as a precaution.
The impact extends to state infrastructure, as the closure of all state parks on the Big Island and Maui halts recreational activities in those areas starting Thursday and Friday, respectively. Beyond the Big Island and Maui, other islands in the chain are expected to see between 1 and 3 inches of rain, with isolated flooding possible. These conditions follow previous storms this season that already strained local resources by washing away homes and knocking out power for thousands of residents.
The path of the storm remains subject to model consensus, which currently suggests the core will pass south of the islands; however, meteorologists noted that some computer models indicate the possibility of a direct landfall. Regardless of a direct hit, the reach of the outer rainbands and the intensity of the storm—forecast to reach 120 mph winds by Saturday—pose a risk of storm surges and significant runoff. Residents were advised on Wednesday night to complete storm preparations within two days. Tropical alerts remain active as Nolo continues its track, with rain totals being monitored through Tuesday morning, September 29.