Nolo Remains South of Hawaii as Flood Threat Persists

Hurricane Nolo remained nearly stationary about 145 miles south of South Point on Saturday morning, carrying maximum sustained winds of 105 mph as forecasters warned that heavy rain, flooding, strong winds and dangerous surf could affect Hawaii. The storm’s center was forecast to move west and remain south and southwest of the main islands, but officials said hazardous conditions were still possible even without a direct landfall. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center said eastern and southern parts of the Big Island could receive storm-total rainfall of 10 to 20 inches, with isolated amounts reaching 25 inches. It warned that the rain could cause significant, life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in steep terrain. Those figures are forecasts, not measured totals; reports available Saturday did not establish how much rain had fallen overall or what damage had occurred. Rain estimates changed as the storm approached. Earlier forecasts were higher: the National Hurricane Center had projected 15 to 30 inches in eastern and southern Big Island areas, with a possible maximum of 35 inches, before reducing the estimate Friday to 10 to 15 inches with a maximum of 25 inches.