Hurricane Nolo expected to bring heavy rain as it skirts Hawaii’s Big Island

NAALEHU, Hawaii — Hurricane Nolo is forecast to strengthen into a major hurricane in the Pacific Ocean over the weekend, unleashing intense rain, the possibility of life-threatening flash flooding, and dangerous surf for Hawaii’s Big Island. Nolo was a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph when its outer rainbands began hitting Big Island Friday evening, the National Hurricane Center said. Come Saturday, hurricane conditions are possible on the island, especially in areas with steep terrain, the weather service warned. The storm was about 145 miles south of South Point, the southernmost point of the Big Island, at around 5 p.m. local time, and was moving north-northeast at 3 mph. This marks the third hurricane in less than two months to whip past Hawaii (following Lala and Lowell).