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.
\n\nNolo, which was a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, will trigger tropical storm conditions for the Big Island on Friday night, the National Hurricane Center forecast. Come Saturday, hurricane conditions are possible on the island, especially in areas with steep terrain, the weather service warned.
\n\nNolo is about 155 miles south of South Point, the southernmost point of the Big Island, moving north-northeast at 5 mph as of Friday 8 p.m. ET (2 p.m. HST).
\n\nThis marks the third hurricane in less than two months to whip past Hawaii (following Lala and Lowell). The active Pacific hurricane season is likely due to a record-setting El Niño — a natural climate pattern characterized by a rise in sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific, and spawns more intense and frequent cyclones there.
\n\nOn its current path, Nolo will move slowly northward Friday night, but will remain south of Big Island through Saturday. Then, it will turn westward and move away…
Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/