The islands of Hawaii are currently grappling with Hurricane Nolo, marking the third major tropical storm to impact the region in recent months. Nolo strengthened to a hurricane on Thursday night and is anticipated to bring rain and high surf to the islands.
This follows Hurricanes Lala in August and Lowell in early September, which caused flooding, downed trees, and toppled electricity lines across the islands. Over 500 homes have been damaged or destroyed this year due to these severe storms.
Typically, Hawaii avoids the worst effects of hurricanes, a phenomenon attributed to its isolated location and cooler water temperatures to the east that tend to weaken approaching storms. However, exceptionally warm sea-surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific, driven by El Niño, are enhancing the development and strength of storms in the region this year.
According to Matthew Rosencrans, lead forecaster for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's seasonal hurricane outlook, El Niño has caused hurricanes to form further south and west, positioning them to approach the Hawaiian islands. The climate phenomenon is expected to strengthen in the coming months, with forecasters warning of a high probability it will reach historic intensity.
Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center, noted that an event of this magnitude is "somewhat rare," with Hawaii not having experienced a direct hurricane landfall since Iniki in 1992.