Hurricane Nolo lashes Hawaii as new threat of ‘volcanic hail’ arises

Hawaii Faces Heavy Rain, Strong Winds and a Growing Volcanic Concern

Cyberzenhub.com – Hawaii residents are navigating another hazardous weekend as Hurricane Nolo passes south of the islands, bringing periods of intense rain, gusty winds and dangerous surf to parts of the state. While the storm’s center is expected to remain well south of the Hawaiian Islands, its outer bands are still affecting the Big Island and Maui.

By Sunday morning, Nolo had strengthened back into a Category 2 hurricane, with maximum winds near 105 mph. The storm was located roughly 200 miles south of South Point on the Big Island and moving west at about 9 mph.

The hurricane briefly dropped to Category 1 strength on Saturday before regaining power overnight. Forecasts indicate that Nolo could intensify further while turning more toward the west, keeping its core away from the islands even as peripheral weather continues to create local hazards.

Rain Bands Continue Over the Big Island and Maui

Rainfall from Nolo’s outer circulation is expected to continue across sections of the Big Island and Maui through Sunday, although conditions were expected to ease later in the day. A flood watch remains in place for the Big Island through Sunday night, reflecting the risk posed by repeated downpours and runoff.

All tropical alerts for Hawaii were cancelled after Nolo weakened on Saturday. That change does not mean weather risks have disappeared. Some communities may still experience strong wind gusts, heavy showers and large waves, while wind alerts remain active for portions of the islands until 6 p.m. Sunday local time.

For residents, the main concern is not only the hurricane’s distance from shore but the conditions generated by its broad outer circulation. Strong winds can make travel difficult, heavy rain can quickly affect roads and drainage areas, and large surf can create dangerous conditions along exposed coastlines.

At Hilo International Airport, sandbags were placed near a closed Southwest Airlines ticket counter as the storm approached the region on Sept. 25, 2026. The preparations illustrated the level of caution being taken even without the hurricane’s eye passing directly over land.

Officials Watch Kilauea for Possible Tephra Fallout

The storm has also heightened concern about a separate potential threat at Kilauea volcano. Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda said precursor activity had been detected, prompting emergency officials to monitor the possibility of tephra being released into nearby communities.

Tephra is volcanic material that can be ejected into the air during volcanic activity. Alameda compared the potential fallout to “volcanic hail,” describing how wind could spread the material beyond the volcano’s immediate area.

“It could shoot as high as a thousand feet, right? And then if there is wind, then that wind pushes that tephra all over to the surrounding community,” Alameda said.

The concern is particularly significant because airborne volcanic material can affect daily infrastructure as well as public safety. Alameda noted that tephra entering household catchment systems could compromise stored water, while deposits on roads may create hazardous travel conditions and require cleanup.

“If that tephra … got into our catchment tank, it impacts our water. So it messes up the catchment tanks, the swimming pools. The roads [have] got to be cleared because it’s very dangerous if it’s on our roads. So, it becomes to the threshold of a disaster.”

Emergency managers are watching closely to determine whether the volcanic activity develops further. The possibility of managing a weather emergency and a volcanic hazard at the same time has added pressure for officials and residents already dealing with a difficult year.

A Demanding Year for the Islands

Hawaii has experienced four natural disasters in 2026, with recovery costs expected to reach $1 billion, Gov. Josh Green said. On the Big Island, many residents are still clearing debris left by Hurricane Lala, which struck only six weeks before Nolo moved into the region.

That recent history makes the latest storm especially challenging. Even a hurricane that stays offshore can disrupt cleanup efforts, damage vulnerable infrastructure and place additional strain on communities that are still recovering from earlier events.

“It’s been rough, and we’re doing the best we can in responding and trying to keep the spirits up for our residents,” Alameda said. “But you know, it brings us together. I believe in every unfortunate situation there are many blessings, and so we look for those blessings, and that’s what keeps us strong.”

Three Hurricanes Active in the Pacific

Nolo is one of three hurricanes active in the Pacific. Hurricane Polo remained the strongest of the group Sunday morning, classified as a major Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 120 mph. Tropical-storm conditions from Polo could reach parts of Baja California Sur as early as Sunday night or early Monday.

Hurricane Odalys, meanwhile, was gradually losing strength. It remained a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph, but it was expected to turn south and begin dissipating later Sunday.

The simultaneous presence of Nolo, Polo and Odalys is unusual. The previous instance of three hurricanes occurring at the same time in the Pacific came in 2015, when Kilo, Ignacio and Jimena were active together.

For Hawaii, the immediate focus remains on rainfall, wind and surf from Nolo, along with the closely watched conditions at Kilauea. Residents in affected areas are being urged to remain alert to changing weather, avoid flooded roads and take seriously any local emergency guidance as the storm continues westward.