Hurricane Nolo nears hard-hit Hawaii: Latest forecast
The Big Island of Hawaii is under a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch as Hurricane Nolo nears the state.
Nolo is not expected to make landfall in Hawaii, but it is forecast to make a close approach to the Big Island on Saturday, bringing strong winds, heavy rain and potentially life-threatening flooding and mudslides.
Power outages and communications failures are possible, and roads, buildings and other structures may be flooded or washed away.
Here's the latest forecast:
Nolo is currently a Category 2 hurricane and could strengthen into a major Category 4 hurricane this weekend.
Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin on the Big Island Friday night. Hurricane conditions possible on Saturday, which will be the main day for the storm.
The Big Island on Saturday could see winds up to 75 mph and rainfall of 10-to-18 inches on the windward side.
Maui is forecast to get about 2-to-6 inches of rain. Ten inches of rain is possible in higher elevations, and life-threatening flooding and mudslides cannot be ruled out.
The other islands may see about 1-to-3 inches of rain with isolated flooding possible.
Conditions will slowly improve on Sunday as Nolo moves away from the Big Island.
Nolo comes amid a rough year for natural disasters in Hawaii. The state has been hit by four big events this year: the Kona Low storms in March, the Hawai'i Island earthquake in May, and Hurricanes Lala and Lowell this summer.
As residents brace for Nolo to bring more destruction, Gov. Josh Green said Wednesday that those four major disasters have left about $686 million in damages. Green said the state has identified another $319 million "in proposed resilience and mitigation projects to strengthen critical infrastructure and prepare Hawaiʻi for future disasters."
"We will pursue every available federal resource, use insurance and state funding responsibly and work with the Legislature to protect our people and prepare Hawaiʻi for what comes next," the governor said in a statement.
Meanwhile, another hurricane is churning in the Pacific Ocean. Hurricane Polo, an extremely dangerous Category 5 hurricane, is currently about 400 miles away from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The storm is moving toward Baja California Sur where heavy rain, dangerous flash flooding and mudslides are possible early next week.
ABC News' Melissa Griffin contributed to this report.
