Oahu entered a tropical storm watch as Lowell closed in on Hawaii, while Kauai and Niihau stayed under a hurricane warning with dangerous conditions expected this afternoon and evening.
At 5 a.m., Lowell was a Category 3 hurricane with 115 mph winds, centered 375 miles southwest of Lihue and forecast to pass near or just west of Niihau tonight into early Tuesday.
CPHC said any eastward shift could trigger a tropical storm warning for Oahu; all islands are under a flood watch through Tuesday afternoon.
Rainfall could reach 6 to 10 inches on Kauai, with isolated 16-inch totals, while storm surge may hit 2 to 4 feet in Kauai County and surf could build to 20 to 30 feet on Kauai and Niihau.
Forecasters expect gradual weakening, but Lowell is still projected to remain a hurricane—likely Category 2—while passing the Hawaiian Islands.