Nolo becomes a Category 3 Hurricane in the remote Pacific Ocean

Nolo transformed into a powerful Category 3 hurricane Saturday in the vast Pacific Ocean, far from Hawaii's main islands. The storm's winds quickly escalated to 115 mph (185 kph), classifying it as a Category 3 hurricane, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center. It was situated approximately 210 miles (335 kilometers) southwest of Maro Reef and advancing westward at 17 mph (28 kph).

A tropical storm warning was issued for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, an extensive and remote protected region encompassing islands, atolls, seamounts, shoals, and coral reefs, spanning from Maro Reef to Lisianski Island. The hurricane center predicted that intense surf caused by Nolo would likely inundate certain low-lying atolls.

No threat was anticipated for any inhabited islands. The hurricane center anticipated Nolo to cross the international date line on Sunday. Nolo had previously approached Hawaii as a hurricane a week earlier, subsequently losing intensity to become a tropical storm before regaining hurricane strength on Friday. Concurrently, another Pacific hurricane, Category 1 Rachel, continued its westward movement, steering clear of Mexico's west coast.