Tag Archives: Hurricane Nolo

Nolo Strengthens Back to a Major Hurricane

Hurricane Nolo strengthened back to a major hurricane as it moved over the Central North Pacific Ocean far to the west of Hawaii on Saturday.

At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Hurricane Nolo was located at latitude 23.4°N and longitude 175.1°W which put the center about 200 miles (320 km) south-southwest of Lisianski Island. Nolo was moving toward the west at 20 m.p.h. (32 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 957 mb.

Hurricane Nolo strengthened back to a major hurricane on Saturday. However, Nolo appeared to be in the middle of an eyewall replacement cycle on Saturday night. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the existing eye and eyewall. The eye was no longer seen on satellite images. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Nolo’s circulation. Storms near the core of Nolo generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease on Saturday.

The distribution of wind speeds in Hurricane Nolo was relatively symmetrical. Winds to hurricane force extended out 30 miles (50 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 11.6 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 32.2. Hurricane Nolo is similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Delta when Delta hit Louisiana in 2020.

Hurricane Nolo will move through an environment 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 could weaken during the next few hours until the eyewall replacement cycle is completed. Nolo is likely to intensify again after the eyewall replacement cycle is completed.

Hurricane Nolo will move around the southern side of a high pressure system that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Nolo toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Nolo will move across the International Date Line on Sunday.

Elsewhere, Hurricane Rachel continued to spin south of Baja California.

At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Hurricane Rachel was located at latitude 20.0°N and longitude 112.8°W which put the center about 275 miles (440 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Rachel was moving toward the west-northwest at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 970 mb.

Hurricane Rachel Spins South of Baja California

Hurricane Rachel was spinning over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Baja California on Friday night.

At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Hurricane Rachel was located at latitude 19.4°N and longitude 111.5°W which put the center about 265 miles (425 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Rachel was moving toward the west at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 966 mb.

Hurricane Rachel weakened gradually on Friday. Rachel move over cooler water that was mixed to the surface by the passage of Hurricane Polo last week. The cooler water caused some of the thunderstorms, especially on the northern side of Rachel’s circulation to weaken.

The circulation around Hurricane Rachel was still well organized even though Rachel was a little weaker than it was yesterday. A circular eye was still present at the center of Rachel’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Thunderstorms were also occurring in bands in the southern half of Hurricane Rachel. Bands in the northern side of Rachel’s circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Rachel generated less upper level divergence that pumped less mass away from the hurricane. The removal of mass in he upper levels was less than the convergence of mass in the lower levels of the atmosphere. So, the surface pressure to increased on Friday.

The distribution of winds speeds in Hurricane Rachel was fairly symmetrical . Winds to hurricane force extended out 45 miles (75 km) from the center of Rachel’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 150 miles (240 km) from the center of Hurricane Rachel.

Hurricane Rachel will move through an environment unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Rachel will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27°C. It will move under the southern side of an upper level ridge that is over Baja California. The upper level ridge will produce northeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Rachel’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. Hurricane Rachel is likely to continue to weaken on Saturday because of the moderate vertical wind shear.

Hurricane Rachel will move around the southern part of a high pressure system that is over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Rachel toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Rachel will continue to move farther away from Baja California.

Elsewhere, former Tropical Storm Nolo strengthened back to a hurricane far to the west of Hawaii.

At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Hurricane Nolo was located at latitude 23.4°N and longitude 168.5°W which put the center about 145 miles (230 km) west-southwest of French Frigate Shoals. Nolo was moving toward the west at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 978 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument from French Frigate Shoals to Lisianaki Island including Maro Reef.

Nolo Strengthens to a Major Hurricane

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.

Hurricane Nolo Stalls South of Hawaii

Hurricane Nolo stalled south of Hawaii early on Saturday. At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Hurricane Nolo was located at latitude 16.9°N and longitude 155.3°W which put the center about 145 miles (235 km) south of South Point, Hawaii. Nolo was stationary. The maximum sustained wind speed was 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 975 mb.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Hawaii County.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Hawaii County.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Maui County including Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and Kahoolawe.

Hurricane Nolo was a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale on Tuesday morning. A circular eye with a diameter of 23 miles (37 km) was at the center of Nolo’s circulation. They eye was surrounded by a broken 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.

Winds to hurricane force extended out 45 miles (75 km) from the center of Hurricane Nolo. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 140 miles (225 km) from the center of Nolo’s circulation.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Nolo is 17.8. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 16.1 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 33.9.

Hurricane Nolo will move through an environment that will be somewhat 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 under the southeastern part of an upper level low that is northwest of Hawaii. The upper level low will produce southerly winds that will blow toward the top of Nolo’s circulation. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear. The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the wind shear may not be enough to prevent intensification. Hurricane Nolo could intensify gradually during the next 24 hours. Nolo could strengthen to a major hurricane during the weekend.

A high pressure system north of Hawaii is forecast to strengthen on Saturday. When the high pressure system strengthens, it will start to steer Hurricane Nolo toward the west. On its anticipated track, the center of Hurricane Nolo will remain south of Hawaii during the weekend.

The circulation around the northern side of Hurricane Nolo will produce easterly winds in parts of the Big Island of Hawaii and on Maui. Heavy rain could fall where those winds blow up the slopes of hills and mountains. Heavy could cause flash floods in some locations.

Flood Watches are in effect for the Big Island of Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and Kahoolawe.

Nolo Strengthens to a Hurricane

Former Tropical Storm Nolo strengthened to a hurricane as it moved over the Central North Pacific Ocean south of Hawaii on Thursday evening. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Hurricane Nolo was located at latitude 15.1°N and longitude 155.9°W which put the center about 270 miles (435 km) south of South Point, Hawaii. Nolo was moving toward the north-northeast at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 984 mb.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Hawaii County.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Hawaii County.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Maui County including Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and Kahoolawe.

The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the eastern and southern sides of the center of Hurricane Nolo. A large circular eye appeared to be forming at the center of Nolo’s circulation. They eye was surrounded by a broken ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Thunderstorms were also occurring in bands in the western side of Hurricane Nolo. Bands in the eastern side of Nolo’s circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. 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.

Winds to hurricane force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Hurricane Nolo. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 105 miles (165 km) from the center of Nolo’s circulation.

Hurricane Nolo will move through an environment that will be somewhat 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 under the southeastern part of an upper level trough that is northwest of Hawaii. The upper level trough will produce southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Nolo’s circulation. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear. The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the wind shear will not be enough to prevent intensification. Hurricane Nolo will intensify gradually during the next 24 hours. Nolo could strengthen to a major hurricane during the weekend.

The upper level trough that is northwest of Hawaii will pull Hurricane Nolo slowly toward the north during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Nolo will move closer to the Big Island of Hawaii. A high pressure system north of Hawaii is forecast to strengthen on Saturday. If the high pressure system strengthens, it will steer Nolo toward the west during the weekend.

The circulation around the northern side of Hurricane Nolo could drop heavy rain on parts of the Big Island of Hawaii and on Maui.