Tropical Depression Fifteen-E is forecast to pass south of the Big Island as a major hurricane Saturday, with up to 35 inches of rain possible there. Landfall isn’t currently expected, but flooding and mudslides are possible; a hurricane warning covers waters around Hawaii.
At Wednesday’s update, Fifteen-E had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. The National Hurricane Center expected it to become a tropical storm later that day, when it would be named Nolo, and reach hurricane strength by Thursday afternoon. Forecast rain totals are 5–10 inches on Maui, locally up to 20, and 1–3 inches across the other islands, locally up to 6; the center warned of potentially life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in high terrain.
Fifteen-E is the third tropical system to affect Hawaii this year. Earlier storms Lala and Lowell did not make direct landfall: Lala brought heavy rain to the Big Island in August, while Lowell affected Kauai earlier this month. Meteorologist Maureen Ballard said Big Island repairs were still underway and Kauai residents remained without power. She called so many storms passing close together unusual and said the season was expected to be busy because of El Niño.
