The vibes in Hawaii are definitely tense right now. Even though Hurricane Nolo lost a little bit of its edge, dropping to a Category 1 storm on Saturday, it is not quite done with the Big Island and Maui yet. It’s moving west at a slow 8 mph, and while it’s staying south of the main islands, the National Hurricane Center is warning that it’s lowkey expected to beef up into a major Category 3 hurricane by Sunday and Monday.
Real talk: even if the worst of it stays offshore, the rain is going to be heavy. We're looking at up to 20 inches of rainfall in parts of the Big Island, and Maui could see between 4 to 8 inches. The Department of Land and Natural Resources has already gone ahead and shut down all state parks on those islands to keep everyone safe.
Governor Josh Green confirmed that President Trump approved an emergency declaration on Friday, which is a major W. It means federal support and resources are officially locked in to help the state recover.
This hurricane season has been absolutely chaotic in the Pacific. We’re still recovering from the memory of Hurricane Lala last month, which washed away about 100 homes, and Hurricane Lowell earlier this month, which had people dealing with power outages and trashed roads. It’s giving a very intense season, no cap. Stay safe out there and keep an eye on local updates.
Why it matters
With Hurricane Nolo expected to re-strengthen into a major hurricane, the risk of isolated flooding remains high, keeping local emergency services on high alert to protect residents and infrastructure.
