Late Monday night, Hurricane Lowell was approaching the western part of Hawaii, delivering destructive winds, intense rainfall, and hazardous surf conditions, as reported by the National Hurricane Center. The storm has caused widespread power outages, affecting tens of thousands of residences and businesses.
Currently classified as a Category 2 hurricane, Lowell boasts maximum sustained winds of 110 mph, just below the threshold of 111 mph required for a Category 3 designation.
As of 11 p.m. local time, Lowell was located approximately 90 miles west of Lihue, the administrative center of Kauai County, which encompasses the islands of Kauai and Niihau. The hurricane was progressing north-northeast at a speed of 18 mph, with hurricane-strength winds extending up to 70 miles from its center.
The National Hurricane Center warned that Lowell could unleash up to 2 feet of rain in certain areas, along with potentially life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, and even the possibility of tornadoes.
A hurricane warning has been issued for Kauai County, while a tropical storm warning is in effect for the island of Oahu.
This alert also encompasses a significant portion of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, which spans nearly 583,000 square miles and includes ten of Hawaii’s islands.
A tornado watch remains active until 4 a.m. local time for Niihau, Kauai, and adjacent waters due to the risks of tornadoes and waterspouts linked to Hurricane Lowell, according to CBS Honolulu affiliate KGMB-TV.
The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency described conditions as “very hazardous” late Monday in both Kauai County and Oahu, advising residents to seek shelter overnight.
The hurricane center further indicated that Kauai could receive an additional 4 to 8 inches of rain, with total accumulations possibly reaching 24 inches. The Big Island may see an extra 3 to 8 inches, with isolated totals of 12 inches possible. Meanwhile, Oahu and Maui County are expected to experience an additional 2 to 5 inches of rain, with isolated storm totals potentially hitting 10 inches. Such rainfall is likely to trigger significant flash flooding and mudslides, particularly in Kauai County and certain areas of the Big Island.
