Nolo Becomes a Category 3 Hurricane in the Remote Pacific Ocean

A hurricane named Nolo has strengthened into a Category 3 storm in the Pacific Ocean, far from Hawaii’s main islands. The Miami-based National Hurricane Center said the storm’s maximum sustained winds rapidly intensified to 115 mph, putting it at Category 3 strength.

Where Nolo Is Now

The storm known as Nolo sat roughly 210 miles south-southwest of Maro Reef, drifting toward the west at a pace of 17 mph. It is forecast to pass over the international date line on Sunday.

A tropical storm warning has been posted for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, a vast and far-off federally protected region holding islands, atolls, seamounts, shoals, and coral reefs, stretching from Maro Reef to Lisianski Island. The announcement came from the hurricane center, which noted that large surf is tied to Nolo “will likely inundate some of the low-lying atolls.”

Nolo’s Path So Far

A week ago, Nolo passed by Hawaii as a hurricane. Afterward, it weakened and turned into a tropical storm. It recovered some of its power Friday and grew back to hurricane strength. On Saturday, it reached Category 3 status.

What The Warning Covers

The warning for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument concerns surf rather than wind, and it applies only to the monument itself, not to any inhabited islands. The monument includes islands, atolls, seamounts, shoals and coral reefs, and stretches from Maro Reef to Lisianski Island.

The Date Line Crossing

Sunday marks the moment Nolo is expected to pass over the international date line, though the crossing will not affect the storm’s strength or direction at all.

Rachel Moves West

A Category 1 hurricane named Rachel kept moving toward the west, staying clear of the western Mexican coast as it traveled across the Pacific.

Surf Forecast For Mexico

The hurricane center says dangerous swells will hit the coast of west-central Mexico through the weekend and the Baja California Peninsula through Monday.

What To Watch Next

Both Nolo and Rachel remain under watch by the hurricane center, which is keeping an eye on their progress. The latest forecast indicates that neither storm stands to pass over any populated islands.

The surf is the problem here. The hurricane center’s warning about inundating atolls is direct, and it concerns a place far from any busy shipping route — islands, atolls, seamounts, shoals and coral reefs all sitting well off the beaten path.

The Order Of Events

Here is the order of events to remember:

1. Nolo skirted Hawaii as a hurricane a week ago.
2. It weakened and became a tropical storm.
3. It regained hurricane strength Friday.
4. It strengthened into a Category 3 storm Saturday.
5. It is expected to cross the international date line Sunday.
6. Large surf warnings are in effect for the monument.
7. No populated islands face a direct hit.

That last point explains the relief. Nolo is a strong force, yet it drifts across an open sea while the inhabitants of settled islands remain outside its path.

Source material: “Nolo becomes a Category 3 Hurricane in the remote Pacific Ocean,” ABC News.

Category 3 · Hurricane · Pacific · tropical storm · weather warning