Officials in Hawaii have issued a tropical storm warning for the islands of Kauai and Niihau as Hurricane Lowell, a Category 3 storm, is forecast to pass to the west of the islands late Monday and Tuesday. The National Hurricane Center warned of heavy rainfall, flooding, and potential mudslides, with rainfall totals expected to reach 6-10 inches (15-25 cm) on Kauai and Niihau, and 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) on Hawaii’s Big Island. Maximum rainfall could reach 14 inches (36 cm) in some areas.
Hurricane Lowell currently has maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 kph) and is located approximately 575 miles (925 km) south-southwest of Lihue. The storm is moving north-northwest at 5 mph (7 kph), with hurricane-force winds extending 50 miles (85 km) from its center and tropical storm-force winds extending 175 miles (280 km). Forecasters expect the storm to weaken slightly to Category 2 strength as it approaches Hawaii.
Immediate Preparations and Warnings
The Kauai Emergency Management Agency has urged residents to fill gas tanks, charge devices, refill prescriptions, and stockpile food and water ahead of the storm. Officials warned that storm surge and tides could cause coastal flooding of up to 3 feet (1 meter) on Kauai. Residents have been advised to prepare for several days without power or travel.
In Lihue, Kauai’s largest town with a population of 8,000, supermarket shelves have been emptied as residents stock up on supplies. The storm’s outer bands are expected to bring dangerous surf and heavy rain even as the hurricane’s center remains offshore.
Forecast and Expected Impacts
The National Hurricane Center has noted that Lowell’s closest approach to Hawaii will occur between Monday night and Tuesday morning, with the storm’s center passing within about 120 miles west of Niihau and 160 miles west of Kauai. While the worst of the hurricane’s winds will stay offshore, Hawaii will still experience significant impacts from heavy rain and flooding.
Meteorologists have highlighted that Lowell’s path has shifted northward due to a weakening high-pressure system over the Pacific, allowing the storm to turn toward the islands. This shift has drawn comparisons to Hurricane Iniki, which struck Kauai in 1992 as a Category 4 storm, though Lowell is not expected to make a direct landfall.
Broader Context: Active Hurricane Season
Hawaii is currently experiencing an unusually active hurricane season, with Lowell being the third storm to target the islands in just over three weeks. Forecasters attribute the heightened activity to El Niño conditions, which have intensified the Pacific hurricane season. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center continues to monitor the storm’s progress and provide updates as conditions evolve.