Hurricane Nolo edged further away from the Hawaiian Islands on Sunday, but threats of heavy rain, flash flooding and strong winds persisted across parts of the island chain still recovering from previous storms.
Nolo was located roughly 365 miles (585 kilometers) south-southwest of Honolulu and moving away from the Big Island. A high-wind warning, wind advisory and high surf advisory remained in effect for parts of the island through Sunday evening. The storm's maximum sustained winds were reported at between 105 mph and 115 mph (165 kph), with the two sources giving slightly different figures.
Forecasters said Nolo's outer bands could cause life-threatening flooding and mudslides, with parts of the Big Island possibly receiving up to 20 inches (50 centimeters) of rain. Heavy rain was also expected on the other islands.
"Don't venture out if you don't have to into the dangerous flooding environment, but also high winds. We can have trees and power lines down," said Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center.
Heavy rain fell across the southern part of the Big Island on Saturday, prompting partial closures of one of the main highways linking Kailua-Kona in the west to Hilo in the east. Near Naalehu, at the island's southern point, National Guard members were seen guiding residents through flooded streets.
More than 120 National Guard members were activated on the island, part of roughly 400 statewide, after the governor issued an emergency proclamation. President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate assistance and provide funding support.
Hawaiian Electric, the state's primary utility, said crews that had been helping restore power in Kauai following Hurricane Lowell earlier this month returned to Oahu, Maui and the Big Island in response to Nolo.
Hawaii residents are still recovering from Hurricane Lala, which produced heavy rain and winds strong enough to sweep about 100 homes off their foundations on the Big Island. In Naalehu, resident Peggy McKibbin surveyed silt-covered roads and pointed out lingering damage from Lala, which wiped out a local bakery, a fire station and a hardware store.
"Everyone has been very much affected by this," McKibbin said.
Meanwhile, residents of Mexico's Baja California peninsula braced for the expected arrival on Monday of Category 3 Hurricane Polo. The storm carried top sustained winds of 125 mph (205 kph) and was moving north-northwest at 12 mph (19 kph), located approximately 270 to 275 miles (435 to 445 kilometers) west-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
Heavy rainfall from Polo was forecast to begin impacting the peninsula overnight and could produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides. Forecasters said Polo would cross Baja California and hit the Mexican mainland, potentially bringing heavy rain and flooding to parts of the U.S. Southwest later in the week.
Mexico's government issued a hurricane warning along the coast of mainland Mexico from Huatabampito to Guaymas. The Mexican navy said it had gathered personnel and humanitarian aid in the ports of Guaymas and Mazatlan and deployed three vessels capable of shipping aid to coastal communities isolated by the storm.
One town in Polo's projected path is San Juanico, a small fishing community on Baja's Pacific coast. The town has had full-time electricity for only a few years and still experiences frequent outages. Residents expressed concern that washed-out roads could block access to medical facilities.
"Our people are concerned about this event," said Gloriely Robles Meza, a manager at a small hotel in San Juanico. "We haven't faced such a worrying situation in many years."
Robles Meza said army soldiers arrived in San Juanico on Sunday to prepare a shelter and provide support for possible emergencies.
Also on Sunday, Tropical Storm Rachel formed well off Mexico's southwest coast. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) and was located about 300 miles (485 kilometers) south of Acapulco. No coastal watches or warnings were in effect.
The Pacific has been unusually active this season, according to National Weather Service lead forecaster Bob Oravec, with storm activity running above average during what is already the peak of hurricane season. He said the pattern is consistent with El Nino years, when the Pacific typically sees more tropical storms and hurricanes.
