official data (NOAA / CPHC Hurricane Nolo Intermediate Advisory 52A, 1800 UTC Sat Oct 3 2026 · Discussion 52, 1500 UTC)
Nolo becomes a major hurricane: 115 mph, Category 3, as it crosses Papahānaumokuākea
Hurricane Nolo became a major hurricane on Saturday morning. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center’s Intermediate Advisory 52A at 8 AM Hawaii time put its winds at 115 mph and its pressure at 959 mb, with the eye near 23.2 north, 172.0 west, about 175 miles south-southwest of Maro Reef, moving west at 16 mph. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument from Maro Reef to Lisianski Island.
Key facts
- Adv 52A (800 AM HST / 2 PM ET Sat Oct 3)
- Hurricane Nolo, Category 3 — a major hurricane · eye near 23.2N 172.0W · ~175 mi (280 km) SSW of Maro Reef, ~235 mi (380 km) SSE of Lisianski Island · 115 mph (185 km/h) · 959 mb · W at 16 mph
- Headline
- “…NOLO BECOMES A MAJOR HURRICANE…”
- Warnings
- Tropical Storm Warning for the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument from Maro Reef to Lisianski Island — tropical storm conditions expected within 12 to 24 hours · interests elsewhere in the monument west of Lisianski Island should monitor Nolo
- Wind field
- Hurricane-force winds extend up to 30 mi (45 km) from the center, tropical-storm-force up to 150 mi (240 km)
- Surf
- Large waves will keep hitting the monument for several days and will likely inundate some low-lying atolls from Maro Reef to Lisianski Island
- Track (forecast)
- Mainly westward and speeding up; the center stays just south of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands west of Maro Reef and is expected to cross the International Date Line by Sunday midday Hawaii time (Adv 52A)
- Intensity (forecast)
- More strengthening over the next day or so, then gradual weakening from Monday (Adv 52A). Discussion 52 (5 AM HST, before the upgrade): could peak at Category 4 in about 36 hours, if not sooner — 140 mph at 8 PM ET Sunday — and remain a hurricane, or a typhoon west of the Date Line, through day 5
- Since Adv 51A
- Advisory 51A (200 AM HST) had 110 mph and 964 mb near 23.3N 170.4W, and a warning reaching east to French Frigate Shoals
- Next
- Next complete advisory 1100 AM HST (5 PM ET)
Satellite images indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 115 mph (185 km/h) with higher gusts. Nolo is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
CPHC Hurricane Nolo Intermediate Advisory 52A · 800 AM HST Sat Oct 3 2026
Note
At 8 AM Hawaii time Saturday, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center put Hurricane Nolo’s maximum sustained winds at 115 mph, making it a Category 3 major hurricane. The eye was near 23.2 north, 172.0 west, about 175 miles south-southwest of Maro Reef and 235 miles south-southeast of Lisianski Island, moving west at 16 mph. The minimum central pressure was estimated at 959 mb.
A Tropical Storm Warning covers the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument from Maro Reef to Lisianski Island, where tropical storm conditions are expected through today. Large waves will keep pounding the monument for several days, and CPHC says the surf will likely inundate some of the low-lying atolls in the warning area. Hurricane-force winds reach 30 miles from the center; tropical-storm-force winds reach 150 miles.
The forecast keeps Nolo moving west and speeding up, with the center passing just south of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands west of Maro Reef and crossing the International Date Line by Sunday midday Hawaii time. CPHC forecasts more strengthening over the next day or so, then gradual weakening from Monday. Discussion 52, written three hours before the upgrade, said Nolo could peak at Category 4 strength in about 36 hours, if not sooner, and should remain a hurricane — called a typhoon west of the Date Line — through the five-day forecast.
Six hours earlier, Advisory 51A had Nolo at 110 mph and 964 mb, with the warning reaching east to French Frigate Shoals. The next complete advisory is due at 11 AM Hawaii time (5 PM ET).
Why it matters
Nolo is now a major hurricane, and its core is passing just south of the low atolls of Papahānaumokuākea, where CPHC expects the surf to wash over some of them. The official forecast still calls for more strengthening before it crosses the Date Line.
Sources
- NOAA CPHC — Hurricane Nolo Intermediate Advisory 52A
- CPHC Hurricane Nolo Discussion 52
- Nolo latest public advisory (updates)
- Nolo graphics (5-day cone)
Primary + secondary attribution as listed.
More: Hurricanes & typhoons
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