Hawaii faces flood threat as Hurricane Nolo departs, Polo nears Baja

Hurricane Nolo moved farther away from Hawaii on Sunday, but parts of the Big Island remained under weather warnings as forecasters warned of strong winds, high surf, flooding and mudslides. At the same time, major Hurricane Polo closed in on Mexico's southern Baja California peninsula, with officials warning of storm surge, damaging winds and heavy rain.

Polo was expected to reach Baja California on Monday as a Category 3 hurricane, and forecasters said it could then cross the peninsula and hit the Mexican mainland. Later in the week, it could also bring heavy rain and flooding to parts of the US Southwest. Elsewhere in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Rachel formed well off Mexico's southwest coast on Sunday.

The US National Hurricane Centre in Miami said Nolo was well southwest of Hawaii and moving away from the Big Island as the weekend ended. A high-wind warning, wind advisory and high surf advisory remained in force for parts of the island through Sunday evening. Nolo's maximum sustained winds increased to near 105 mph, or 165 kph.

Forecasters said Nolo's outer rain bands could still trigger life-threatening flooding and mudslides. Parts of the Big Island could receive up to 20 inches, or 50 centimetres, of rain, with heavy rain also expected across the other islands. More than 120 National Guard members were activated, part of about 400 across the state after the governor issued an emergency proclamation. President Donald Trump also approved an emergency declaration, authorising the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate assistance and provide funding support.

Residents in Hawaii were still recovering from Hurricane Lala, which brought heavy rain and winds strong enough to sweep about 100 homes off their foundations on the Big Island. In Naalehu, at the island's southern tip, Peggy McKibbin used her four-wheeler on Sunday to inspect silt-covered roads and pointed to damage left behind by Lala, including a local bakery, fire station and hardware store that were wiped out. "Everyone has been very much affected by this," McKibbin said.

Forecasters said the Pacific had been unusually active. National Weather Service lead forecaster Bob Oravec said storm activity was running above average during what is already the peak of hurricane season, adding that the pattern was consistent with El Nio years, when the Pacific often sees more tropical storms and hurricanes.

In Mexico, Baja California residents prepared for Polo's arrival. The hurricane centre said Polo had maximum sustained winds of 125 mph, or 205 kph, on Sunday evening and was moving north at 12 mph, or 19 kph, about 270 miles, or 435 kilometres, west of Cabo San Lucas at the southern tip of the peninsula. Heavy rainfall from Polo was expected to begin affecting the peninsula overnight and could cause life-threatening flooding and mudslides. The Mexican navy said it had gathered personnel and humanitarian aid in the Pacific ports of Guaymas and Mazatlan and had deployed three vessels that could deliver aid to coastal communities cut off by the storm.

One of the towns 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 faces frequent outages. There was concern that washed-out roads could block access to the nearest medical facility. "Our people are concerned about this event," said Gloriely Robles Meza, a manager at a small hotel. "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.

Tropical Storm Rachel also formed on Sunday well off Mexico's southwest coast. The hurricane centre said Rachel had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, or 65 kph, and was located about 300 miles, or 485 kilometres, south of Acapulco. No coastal watches or warnings were in effect. Overall, Sunday saw Hawaii continue to deal with the effects of Nolo, while Mexico prepared for Polo and another storm developed in the eastern Pacific.