Future Nolo threatens Hawaii with hurricane winds, flooding

Key Points:

• Tropical Depression Fifteen-E, located about 300 miles south of Hawaii's Big Island, is expected to strengthen into Tropical Storm Nolo and potentially intensify into a major hurricane by this weekend, posing a significant threat to the region.
• Nolo's exact track remains uncertain, with a critical westward turn expected between Friday and Saturday; this will determine how close the storm's strongest winds come to the Big Island, potentially causing severe impacts.
• Heavy rainfall is forecasted, with up to 35 inches possible on the Big Island and 20 inches on Maui, raising concerns about life-threatening flash flooding and landslides, especially given recent flooding from previous storms.
• Tropical storm force winds and possibly hurricane-force winds could result in tree damage, power outages, and structural damage, particularly on the eastern islands from the Big Island to Maui County.
• Coastal flooding, dangerous surf, and rip currents are expected starting Friday, with Nolo potentially becoming the strongest hurricane to affect the Big Island in nearly 70 years, following Hurricane Dot in 1959.