UPDATED 12:25 p.m.

Hawaii Island is no longer under a hurricane watch as Nolo continues to slowly move west and away from the island.

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As of 11 a.m., Hurricane Lolo had 90 mph maximum sustained winds with higher gusts and was centered 160 miles south of South Point and 340 miles south-southeast of Honolulu, moving west at 5 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Hurricane force winds of 74 mph or more extend up to 35 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds of 39 mph or more extend 150 miles.

While the hurricane watch has been canceled, the Big Island remains under a tropical storm warning. A flood watch remains in effect through this afternoon.

Nolo is expected to remain well south and southwest of the main Hawaiian islands as it picks up spreed while turning west then northwest early next week, CPHC said. “The models agree that Nolo will be clear of the main Hawaiian islands by the time it makes this turn,” forecasters said.

It is expected to grow into a major hurricane over the weekend, peaking with 130 mph maximum sustained winds as it passes hundreds of miles south-southwest of Kauai late Sunday night. Steady weakening is expected after it peaks and it is forecast to pass far west of Kauai on Tuesday as a Category 1 hurricane.

PREVIOUSLY

Hurricane Nolo was parked south of South Point this morning with its outer bands of rain continuing to hit parts of Hawaii Island but forecasters expect it to start moving west soon, avoiding a direct landfall.

As of 5 a.m., Nolo was a strong Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph and was stationary, centered 145 miles south of South Point and 345 miles south-southeast of Honolulu, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Nolo is a relatively compact cyclone with hurricane-force winds of 74 mph or more extending up to 45 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds of 39 mph or more extending up to 140 miles.

“Nolo continues to meander to the south of the Big Island of Hawaii,” CPHC forecasters said.

It is forecast to start moving west this moving with “increasing forward speed,” they said. “On the forecast track, the center of Nolo will remain well south and southwest of the main Hawaiian islands.”

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A hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning remains in effect for Hawaii Island.

Civil Defense this morning reported that as of 9 p.m. Friday, Highway 250 — Kohala Mountain Road — was closed due to high winds and possible hazardous conditions and remains closed.

All other major roadways and highways are open this morning.

Hawaii County shelter facilities at 10 locations around Hawaii Island remain open for those wishing to take refuge.

For more information about shelter locations, please visit the Civil Defense Agency website or contact Civil Defense at (808) 935-0031.

Nolo’s current forecast track has it moving several hundreds of miles west of Kauai by about Monday.

“The track models are in good agreement on keeping the core of Nolo well to the south and southwest of the main Hawaiian islands during the next several days,” CPHC forecasters said this morning. “The hurricane is showing some ill effects of easterly shear and dry air, and its lack of forward motion could be resulting in some upwelling of cooler water.”

But as Nolo starts moving west, they said, it will move over warmer water and encounter less wind shear so it will strengthen to a major hurricane as it passes hundreds of miles south of the smaller islands. It will start moving northwest on Sunday.

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