Hawaii braces for Nolo’s catastrophic flooding as El Niño fuels Pacific storm surge

Key points

• Nolo is forecast to bring up to 25 inches of rain, risking catastrophic flooding and mudslides in steep terrain.
• Hawaii activated 230+ National Guard members and closed schools ahead of the storm.
• Bank of Hawaii temporarily closed branches on Hawaii Island and Maui County due to the threat.
• Governor Josh Green requested an emergency disaster declaration for four counties to access federal funds.
• Senator Brian Schatz attributed the string of destructive storms to the warming planet and urged climate action.

Background

Hawaii has already faced three named storms in 2026, an unprecedented event driven by El Niño conditions. Hurricane Lala in August left some residents displaced, and communities are still recovering from extreme weather that destroyed homes and washed away roads. Earlier forecasts predicted Nolo could bring up to 36 inches of rain at higher elevations, with a hurricane watch in effect for the Big Island.

How outlets are covering it

The Guardian emphasized the immediate threat of life-threatening flooding and the state’s emergency response, including National Guard activation and school closures. NBC News highlighted the broader context of El Niño supercharging Pacific storms while keeping the Atlantic season at a 75-year low. Maui Now focused on practical impacts, such as Bank of Hawaii closing branches and maintaining contact center operations. All sources agreed on the severity of Nolo’s threat, but differed in emphasis: The Guardian focused on human impact and political response, NBC News on climate drivers, and Maui Now on local infrastructure disruptions.

Why it matters

Nolo’s potential to cause catastrophic flooding in areas already weakened by Hurricane Lala underscores the compounding effects of climate change on Hawaii. The storm’s impact could further strain emergency resources and delay recovery efforts, while the federal disaster declaration request highlights the growing need for financial support to address repeated climate-related disasters.

What to watch

Nolo is expected to move west on Saturday and not directly hit the islands, but heavy rainfall and damaging waves will continue. Hawaii’s emergency management agency advised residents to review emergency plans and consider evacuating. The governor’s disaster declaration request awaits approval from President Donald Trump, and Bank of Hawaii will update branch status as the storm progresses.