Hurricane Nolo strengthened to a major hurricane as it moved over the Central North Pacific Ocean south of Hawaii on Sunday.
At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Hurricane Nolo was located at latitude 16.2°N and longitude 159.3°W which put the center about 365 miles (585 km) south-southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii. Nolo was moving toward the west at 12 m.p.h. )19 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 135 m.p.h. (215 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 966 mb.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument from Nihoa to French Frigate Shoals.
Hurricane Nolo intensified to a major hurricane on Sunday. A circular eye with a diameter of 35 miles was at the center of Nolo’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Hurricane Nolo. Storms near the center of Nolo generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.
The distribution of wind speeds around Hurricane Nolo was fairly symmetrical. Winds to hurricane force extended out 35 miles (55 km) from the center of Nolo’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 150 miles (240 km) from the center of Hurricane Nolo.
The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Nolo is 20.6. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 14.0 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 34.6. Hurricane Nolo is similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Delta when Delta hit Southwest Louisiana in 2020.
Hurricane Nolo will move through an environment that will be favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Nolo will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Hurricane Nolo will intensify during the next 24 hours.
Hurricane Nolo will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system that is over the Central North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Nolo toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Nolo will stay southwest of Hawaii on Monday.