A new hurricane has rapidly intensified in the Pacific, just days after Hurricane Polo brought dangerous conditions to parts of Mexico and Southern California.
Hurricane Nolo strengthened overnight into a Category 3 storm and could continue gaining power during the next 24 to 36 hours. The National Hurricane Center said in its Sunday morning advisory that Nolo may reach Category 4 intensity around Oct. 5 or 6, with sustained winds near 132 mph and gusts as high as 161 mph.
The storm is tracking westward across the Pacific and is expected to cross the International Date Line within 12 hours. Its projected path will keep it far from Hawaii’s main islands.
“Nolo is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale,” the Miami-based hurricane center said. Forecasters expect further strengthening over the next day before the system begins to weaken around the middle of the week.
Forecasters anticipate a gradual decline in strength between Oct. 7 and 9, when Nolo is expected to weaken into a tropical storm with winds below 60 mph.
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Even as the system moves west, powerful swells generated by Hurricane Nolo are expected to continue reaching the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument over the coming days.
The hurricane center warned that dangerous surf could wash over several low-lying atolls, including areas stretching from Maro Reef to Lisianski Island.
Hurricane Nolo passed near the Hawaiian Islands on Saturday. Although the hurricane watch has been lifted, officials continue to caution residents and visitors about possible flash flooding, strong winds and life-threatening surf, especially in communities still dealing with the effects of previous storms.
Elsewhere in the Pacific, Hurricane Rachel remained off Mexico’s western coast Friday. The storm is forecast to move westward away from land while retaining hurricane strength into the beginning of next week.