Hurricane Nolo Moves Away From Hawaii as Hurricane Polo Threatens Mexico's Baja Peninsula

Hurricane Nolo began moving away from the Hawaiian Islands on Sunday, though severe weather risks including heavy rain, flash flooding, and high winds remain across parts of the state. Meanwhile, Mexico's Baja California peninsula is preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Polo, a dangerous Category 3 storm advancing from the south-southwest.

Severe Weather Conditions Persist Across Hawaii

Located approximately 365 miles south-southwest of Honolulu, Hurricane Nolo was moving away from the Big Island at 12 mph on Sunday. Despite its movement, the storm strengthened to reach maximum sustained winds of 115 mph. The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency kept high wind warnings, wind advisories, and high surf advisories active through Sunday evening. The National Hurricane Center expected Nolo to turn northwest and head toward the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument early this week, remaining well south and southwest of the main Hawaiian Islands.

Forecasters warned that outer bands from the hurricane could generate up to 20 inches of rain on parts of the Big Island, creating life-threatening mudslides and flooding. Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center, urged residents to avoid hazardous areas due to the threat of fallen trees and downed power lines. Heavy rainfall on Saturday already triggered partial closures on a primary highway connecting Kailua-Kona and Hilo.

Emergency Responses and Local Recovery

Following an emergency proclamation by Hawaii's governor, over 120 National Guard members were activated on the Big Island as part of roughly 400 deployed statewide. National Guard personnel assisted residents in flooded areas, including near Naalehu. The recent storm comes while communities continue recovering from Hurricane Lala, which swept roughly 100 homes off their foundations, and Hurricane Lowell, which caused power outages on Kauai. Hawaiian Electric relocated utility crews to Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island to prepare for Nolo's impact. Former President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration authorizing FEMA to coordinate federal assistance.

Hurricane Polo Approaches Mexico

In the Eastern Pacific, Hurricane Polo maintained Category 3 status with sustained winds of 125 mph while positioned about 275 miles south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas. Moving north-northwest at 12 mph, the storm is projected by Mexico's National Meteorological Service to make landfall along the Baja California peninsula on Monday. The Mexican government issued a hurricane warning for the mainland coast between Huatabampito and Guaymas.

The Mexican Navy positioned personnel, humanitarian supplies, and three transport vessels in the Pacific ports of Guaymas and Mazatlán to reach isolated coastal locations. In San Juanico, a remote fishing community along Polo's path, the Mexican army arrived to establish a shelter, alongside electrical crews preparing for potential power outages. Elsewhere in the region, Tropical Storm Rachel formed approximately 300 miles south of Acapulco with winds of 40 mph, though no coastal warnings were immediately issued.