Hurricane Nolo strengthened into a major Category 3 storm in the remote Pacific Ocean on Saturday, far west of Hawaii’s main islands and populated areas.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds reached 115 miles per hour (185 kilometres per hour), the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said.

As of Saturday evening, Nolo was about 200 miles (320 kilometres) south-southwest of Lisianski Island, moving westward at 20 miles per hour (31 kilometres per hour).

A tropical storm warning was issued for part of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, a vast protected area containing islands, atolls, underwater mountains, shoals and coral reefs. The warning covered the area from Maro Reef to Lisianski Island.

The hurricane centre warned that large waves generated by Nolo could flood some low-lying atolls.

However, the forecast indicated no threat to any populated islands.

Nolo was expected to cross the international date line on Sunday, the centre said.

The storm passed near Hawaii as a hurricane about a week ago before weakening into a tropical storm. It regained hurricane strength on Friday.

Meanwhile, another Pacific storm, Category 1 Hurricane Rachel, continued moving westward away from Mexico’s west coast.

The hurricane centre forecast dangerous swells along the west-central coast of Mexico through the weekend and around the Baja California Peninsula through Monday.