Hurricane Nolo still threatens Hawaii as Mexico's Baja braces for major Hurricane Polo

Hurricane Nolo is moving away from Hawaiian islands but threat of heavy rain, flash floods and strong winds persists

Hurricane Nolo was moving away from the Hawaiian islands on Sunday, but the threat of heavy rain, flash flooding and strong winds persisted in areas of the island chain still recovering from previous storms.

Nolo was about 365 miles (585km) south-south-west of Honolulu and moving away from the Big Island at about 12mph (19kph). But the Hawaii county civil defense agency said a high wind warning, wind advisory and high surf advisory remained in effect for parts of the island through Sunday evening as Nolo’s maximum sustained winds rose to 115mph (165kph).

Nolo was expected to strengthen further and turn toward the north-west by Sunday night, though the US National Hurricane Center said the storm’s center would remain well south and south-west of the Hawaiian Islands. The storm was expected to approach the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, a national conservation area, early this week.

Forecasters said Nolo’s outer bands could cause life-threatening flooding and mudslides, with parts of the Big Island possibly getting up to 20in (50cm ) of rain. Heavy rain also was expected on the other islands.