Nolo threatens Hawaii with heavy rain and flooding

Hurricane Nolo threatened Hawaii’s Big Island on Friday with potentially catastrophic flooding and mudslides, prompting residents to prepare as forecasters warned that the storm could bring up to 30 inches of rain to eastern and southern areas, with isolated totals possibly reaching 35 inches. The National Hurricane Center said Friday morning that Nolo was about 220 miles south of the Big Island, with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph, and was moving northeast. Tropical-storm conditions were expected to begin on the island Friday evening. The center forecast that Nolo could strengthen into a major hurricane on Saturday, while its center was expected to remain south of the main Hawaiian Islands. The rainfall forecast for eastern and southern parts of the Big Island was 15 to 30 inches, with some locations possibly receiving up to 35 inches, the hurricane center said. It warned that the rain could trigger life-threatening flooding and mudslides, particularly in steep terrain. These were forecasts, and the reports did not establish what damage Nolo would cause or where its eventual track would take it. Other parts of Hawaii also faced potential hazards.