HILO, Hawaii (AP) — Rain began falling Saturday as Hurricane Nolo bore down on the Hawaiian Islands, with officials warning about the potential for flash floods, dangerous winds and extreme surf in areas still recovering from previous storms.

Nolo was churning very slowly south of the Big Island with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 kph).

Its center was about 160 miles (260 kilometers) south of Hawaii’s southernmost point, and it was forecast to strengthen into a major hurricane through the weekend while traveling westward to the south of the islands.

While direct landfall by the storm’s center was not expected, forecasters said it could cause life-threatening flooding and mudslides, with parts of the Big Island expected to see rainfall totals up to 20 inches (51 centimeters).

Heavy rain also was expected on the other islands.

“Don’t venture out if you don’t have to into the dangerous flooding environment, but also high winds.

We can have trees and power lines down,” said Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center.

The humanitarian nonprofit group CORE and other partners spent the week packing and shipping supplies like camp stoves and hygiene products by air cargo from Oahu to the Big Island for a community relief hub that has been active since August’s Hurricane Lala.

Residents are still recovering from Lala, which produced heavy rain and winds strong enough to sweep about 100 homes off their foundations on the Big Island.

Hawaii prepares for northern edge of Nolo About a dozen people were in the water Saturday morning at Carlsmith Beach Park in Hilo on the Big Island, despite signs saying the strand was closed.

Andrea Gill was out for her regular swim before heading back home to hunker down with family.

“I hope it stops just sitting there and moves and goes somewhere else,” Gill said of the slow-moving storm.

Shop owners boarded up businesses, and events were canceled.

Gill said storms are common, but hurricanes are rare.

She was holding out hope that the islands might not get the full impact.

“We’re used to lots of rain.

We’re not used to wind.

So it’s always a blessing when we don’t get the wind from the hurricane,” she said.

President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for the state Friday, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate assistance and provide funding support.

Hawaii officials told residents to put together emergency kits, and the governor issued an emergency proclamation, activating hundreds of Hawaii National Guard members.

Hawaii County authorities....