Hawaiʻi’s Big Island may see up to three feet of rain as Tropical Storm Nolo builds momentum in the Pacific.

Nolo is not expected to make landfall, but forecasters warn of catastrophic damage, and several severe weather alerts are in effect.

Nolo arrives just weeks after Hurricane Lala, which caused major flooding and long-term power outages on the Big Island. Back-to-back hurricanes, on top of several severe storms earlier in the summer, are unusual for the Hawaiian Islands.

On Thursday, the National Weather Service warned that Nolo’s winds could be catastrophic. The agency expects widespread power and communication outages, uprooted trees and fences, downed road signs, and impassable streets and bridges. It also warned emergency responders to expect evacuations and rescues due to extreme rainfall.

Recovery Amid Ongoing Storms

Heavy rains continue to flood parts of the Big Island. Communities in Nāʻālehu and Kaʻū are still recovering from recent storms that caused major flooding and power outages.…