Storm projected to approach Papahanaumokuakea monument early this week
Hurricane Nolo strengthened to a Category 2 storm Sunday morning as the system tracked westward through Pacific waters south of the Hawaiian Islands, the National Hurricane Center reported. Maximum sustained winds reached 105 mph, the NHC said in its 5 a.m. HST update.
The storm’s center was positioned about 260 miles southwest of South Point, Hawaii, and 355 miles south of Honolulu at the time of the update. Nolo was moving to the west at 12 mph, the NHC said.
Forecasters expected the storm to continue strengthening over the next day, reaching Category 3 major hurricane status before beginning a weakening cycle “in a couple of days,” according to the NHC.
On its forecast track, the center of Nolo will remain south and southwest of the main Hawaiian Islands, sparing the archipelago a direct hit, the NHC said. The agency warned, however, that the storm could still produce strong, gusty winds, scattered rain and flooding threats across the islands despite the projected path.
The NHC also said the storm will approach the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument early in the week.
No coastal watches or warnings were in effect on land as of the 5 a.m. update, the NHC said. The agency’s warning about strong, gusty winds, scattered rain and flooding threats applied to the islands even with the storm’s center projected to stay south of the main island chain.