Nolo rain and Hawaii risks ABC’s recovery report

Sep 24

ABC’s weather segment and Jacqueline Lee report Hurricane Nolo’s offshore track, rain, winds, rescues and mudslide risks while Hawaii is still recovering from Lala. The county mayor describes anxiety and emergency preparations, including concern that any Kilauea tephra eruption could coincide with strong winds. The earlier hurricane remains a separate occurrence, and the volcanic scenario is a warning rather than a reported eruption or realized spread of debris.

Lee Goldberg's September 24 forecast says Nolo could strengthen into a major Category 3 hurricane south of the Big Island over the weekend, with potentially catastrophic rainfall. The on-screen track projects a path south of Hawaii. These are predictions, not a confirmed Category 3 intensity, landfall or measured rainfall outcome. On September 25, Fox's Hilo correspondent places Nolo less than 200 miles south of the Big Island as a Category 2 hurricane with 105-mph winds. He forecasts possible Category 3 strength in the next day or so and no direct landfall, but potentially severe rainfall across the islands. The anchor and graphics cite up to 30 inches; Robert Ray says 30–40 inches could fall on the Big Island depending on elevation and up to 20 inches on Maui. He warns of runoff, river flooding, vegetation loss and possible damage to roads and structures. Beach debris is visible; the predicted rainfall and damage have not yet been established. ABC's September 27 update says Nolo has battered Hawaii with more than a foot of rain, wind and waves, while the Big Island avoids a direct hit. National Guard troops rescue some residents, and the report explains how steep terrain and prolonged rain can isolate communities through mudslides. Lopez describes Nolo as Category 3 moving farther away; the graphic warns of gusts up to 75 mph and shows a forecast intensification before weakening. Jacqueline Lee says it lingered offshore for 36 hours. The Hawaii County mayor describes anxiety among residents still recovering from Lala about six weeks earlier. Officials also warn conditionally that renewed Kilauea activity could loft tephra into Nolo's winds and toward communities. The reported $1 billion recovery estimate covers four disasters that year, not Nolo alone. ABC does not establish hurricane-driven tephra damage, and the earlier Fox rainfall totals remain forecasts rather than realized measurements. Fox's September 29 brief says torrential rain could still reach parts of Hawaii even as Nolo moves away. It adds no measured rainfall, new intensity, landfall or casualty figure. This is a continuing warning, not a claim that the projected rain has occurred.