Hurricane Nolo, a major Category 3 hurricane, making close pass of Hawaii
Hurricane Nolo is forecast to stay south and west of Hawaii, but heavy rainfall and gusty winds will occur across the islands.
Hawaii is facing yet another tropical threat so far this hurricane season, with Hurricane Nolo, a Category 3 storm as of early Tuesday morning, cruising to the west of the islands this week.
This image of Category 3 Hurricane Nolo was captured late Monday night (HST), on Sept. 28, 2026. (AccuWeather Enhanced RealVue™ Satellite)
A hurricane warning is in place for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument from Nihoa to French Frigate Shoals.
As of late Monday night, local time, Nolo was about 405 miles west of Honolulu and moving north with maximum winds of 115 mph.
This past weekend, the center of Nolo remained well south and southwest of the main Hawaiian Islands, avoiding landfall. Nolo's center will make another close pass to the western islands midweek, coming within about 300 miles of Kaua'i.
Rain to reach western islands as Nolo makes a turn north
The heaviest rain has already fallen across Maui and the Big Island. Many places on the Big Island have over a foot of rain, with the highest reported rainfall amounts so far at 21.99 inches in Laupahoehoe.
Northern portions of Maui also got a deluge of rain, with some areas along the northeastern slopes surpassing a foot.
Nolo will continue to follow more of a northward track into midweek, which could bring it close to some of the westernmost islands.
Rainfall will ramp up over the western islands from Tuesday to Wednesday, bringing an additional 1-2 inches, with locally higher amounts possible in the terrain.
Hawaii has faced more tropical threats than normal this hurricane season amid a strengthening El Niño. Unusually warm waters linked to El Niño have provided ample fuel for the tropical storms and hurricanes, starting with Lala in mid-August and followed by Tropical Storm Moke and Hurricane Lowell.
A man watches debris flow along Ka'alaiki Road after Hurricane Lala in Naalehu, Hawaii, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. The Category 1 hurricane brought heavy rain and strong winds to the island of Hawaii before moving away without making landfall, causing extensive damage to towns along the island's southern end. (Photo by Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
Hawaii rarely experiences direct impacts from several tropical storms or hurricanes in the same year, as it has in 2026. In most years, the state does not experience even one. Only four tropical systems on record have passed within 100 miles of the islands during October, November or December.
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