Two hurricanes are active in the Pacific Ocean this week, with Hurricane Nolo approaching Hawaii and Hurricane Polo moving along the southwestern coast of Mexico. The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported that Nolo strengthened into a hurricane on Thursday night, September 24, and is expected to intensify as it moves toward Hawaii’s Big Island. Simultaneously, Hurricane Polo has fluctuated between Category 4 and 5 strength while moving along Mexico’s coast.
The current weather activity occurs during an El Niño cycle, a climate pattern involving the warming of parts of the Pacific Ocean. Forecasters noted that this pattern typically increases tropical cyclone activity in the Pacific while reducing it in the Atlantic. Hawaii has already experienced major flooding, an earthquake, and two other hurricanes since mid-August 2026. John Bravender of the National Weather Service in Honolulu stated that he has not seen three hurricane watches for the islands in a single year during his 20-year tenure.
In Hawaii, forecasters warned that the Big Island could receive between 15 and 30 inches of rain through Saturday, September 26, with the possibility of life-threatening flooding on both the Big Island and Maui. Governor Josh Green issued an emergency proclamation, activating more than 230 National Guard members and closing schools for the remainder of the week. In Mexico, authorities deployed 15,000 security personnel to the coast, suspended school sessions, and opened emergency shelters, evacuating residents from high-risk areas.
Residents of Hawaii’s Big Island and Maui, as well as those in the Mexican states of Guerrero and Michoacan, are facing threats from these storms. In Hawaii, the heavy rainfall is expected to impact the southeastern part of the Big Island, a region where the ground is already saturated from Hurricane Lala in August. Meteorologists indicate this could lead to the washing out of roads and the isolation of communities.
In Mexico, the impact has already reached households and businesses in the port city of Lazaro Cardenas. Restaurant owner Alicia Contreras reported that 15-foot waves caused severe damage to her property. With Hurricane Polo expected to regain Category 5 status on Friday, September 25, the 15,000 security personnel deployed by the Mexican government are managing evacuations and shelter operations for residents in high-risk zones.
The ongoing storm activity also strains regional utility and emergency resources. Hawaiian Electric is redirecting crews from Kauai—where they were repairing damage from Hurricane Lowell—to Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island to prepare for Nolo. Beyond these two systems, forecasters are monitoring Hurricane Odalys and Tropical Storm Fay, which remain far from land, as well as Tropical Storm Gonzalo, which was projected to pass near Cape Verde on Friday, September 25. Residents in the affected Pacific regions will continue to monitor weather updates through the weekend as Nolo makes its closest approach.