Now it’s Typhoon Nolo after Pacific hurricane crosses the international dateline

The storm that formed as a tropical cyclone in the central Pacific on Monday has now been re‑classified as Typhoon Nolo after it crossed the International Date Line into the western Pacific basin. The transition marks the first time this season that a system has moved from the area monitored by the United States’ National Hurricane Center to the region overseen by the Japan Meteorological Agency, prompting a hand‑over of forecasting responsibilities and a change in naming conventions. At the time of the crossing, satellite imagery showed the storm’s central dense overcast expanding and its eye becoming increasingly defined, indicators of strengthening that prompted forecasters to upgrade the system to typhoon status.Meteorologists at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported that Nolo’s maximum sustained winds had reached 115 kilometres per hour (71 miles per hour) with gusts exceeding 150 kilometres per hour, qualifying it as a Category 1 typhoon on the Saffir‑Simpson scale..

The storm’s central pressure dropped to 985 hPa, a sign of intensification that is consistent with the warm sea‑surface temperatures—averaging around 29 °C—in the region it now occupies. The JTWC and the Japan Meteorological Agency both forecast a gradual strengthening trend over the next 24 to 48 hours, with the potential for Nolo to reach Category 2 intensity before encountering increasing vertical wind shear later in the week.Nolo is currently tracking west‑northwest at a speed of roughly 15 km h⁻¹, steering it toward a sparsely populated stretch of the Pacific that lies between the northern Mariana Islands and the southern Philippines. The official forecast track shows the centre of the typhoon passing to the south of the island of Saipan on Thursday, with the possibility of peripheral rainbands affecting the island chain later in the day..

Residents in the Marianas have been advised to monitor local advisories, secure loose objects, and be prepared for sudden increases in wind speed and heavy rainfall that could lead to localized flooding.The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has placed the northernmost part of the country under a Signal 1 warning, the lowest level of alert in its four‑tier system. While the main body of Nolo is expected to remain well offshore, the agency warned that enhanced monsoonal flow could be drawn northward by the typhoon’s circulation, potentially bringing moderate to heavy rain to the Cagayan Valley and the Ilocos region. Agricultural officials in these provinces have already begun pre‑emptive measures, such as securing livestock and reinforcing irrigation infrastructure, to mitigate the impact of possible flash floods.In the United States, the National Weather Service’s Pacific Islands office issued a Tropical Storm Warning for parts of the northern Mariana Islands, indicating that tropical‑storm‑force winds are expected within 36 hours..

The warning remains in effect until the system moves further west, after which it will be handed over to the JTWC for continued monitoring. The agency also warned of the storm’s potential to generate high seas and dangerous rip currents along the coastlines of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, advising mariners to remain in port until the advisory is lifted.The transition from a Pacific hurricane to a western Pacific typhoon is a routine procedural change, but it highlights the collaborative nature of tropical‑cyclone monitoring across different meteorological agencies. The World Meteorological Organization’s Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre for the western Pacific, based in Tokyo, assumes responsibility for naming and issuing warnings once a system crosses the dateline..

In turn, the United States’ Central Pacific Hurricane Center continues to provide data and model outputs to support the hand‑over, ensuring a seamless flow of information for both forecasters and the public.Scientists studying Nolo note that its development follows a pattern observed in recent years, where a higher frequency of intense tropical cyclones has been recorded in the central Pacific. The warm oceanic conditions that have become more common as a result of climate change are believed to contribute to both the formation and rapid intensification of such storms. Researchers from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa are currently analysing satellite‑derived heat‑content data to better understand how these oceanic trends may affect future cyclone behaviour in the basin.Emergency management officials across the affected regions are urging residents to stay informed through official channels and to heed evacuation orders should they be issued..

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has pre‑positioned relief supplies on Saipan and in the Philippines as a precaution, ready to be deployed if Nolo’s outer bands trigger landslides or severe flooding. Local governments are also coordinating with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to ensure that any required assistance can be mobilised quickly.As Nolo moves further west, the focus will shift to its interaction with the mid‑latitude westerlies that dominate the region during the autumn months. Forecast models suggest that the typhoon may begin to weaken as it encounters stronger vertical wind shear and cooler sea‑surface temperatures beyond the Philippines..

Nevertheless, the storm’s remnants could still carry significant moisture, contributing to the seasonal monsoon rains that affect much of Southeast Asia. Observers will continue to monitor the system closely, with updates expected every six hours from the JTWC and the Japan Meteorological Agency.The evolution of Typhoon Nolo underscores the importance of international cooperation in tracking and responding to tropical cyclones that traverse multiple basins. While the immediate threat to populated areas remains limited, the potential for secondary impacts such as heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides warrants continued vigilance..

Authorities across the Pacific and Southeast Asia are maintaining a state of readiness, emphasizing that preparedness measures can significantly reduce the human and economic costs of any adverse weather that may follow the storm’s passage..