Hurricane Lowell Nears Kauai and Oahu With 110 mph Winds as Warnings Expand Across Hawaii
Updated
Updated · Hawaii News Now · Sep 7
Hurricane Lowell Nears Kauai and Oahu With 110 mph Winds as Warnings Expand Across Hawaii
3 articles · Updated · Hawaii News Now · Sep 7
Summary
Kauai and Niihau are now under a Hurricane Warning, while Oahu faces a Tropical Storm Warning, as Lowell’s track shifted slightly east and raised the risk to the main islands.
At 11 a.m. Monday, Lowell was a high-end Category 2 storm with 110 mph sustained winds, centered 275 miles southwest of Lihue and moving north-northeast at 17 mph.
Monday night into early Tuesday, Kauai County could see damaging hurricane conditions, while Oahu may get gusts strong enough to down tree branches and trigger power outages.
Rainfall of 6 to 10 inches on Kauai—with isolated totals up to 14 inches—could bring flash flooding and mudslides; several tornadoes are also possible near Kauai and Niihau.
Surf is forecast to build to 20 to 30 feet on Kauai and Niihau, with coastal flooding of 1 to 3 feet possible in Kauai County as Lowell passes just west of Niihau.
Beyond the 110 mph winds, what hidden dangers do the forecasted tornadoes and massive mudslides pose to Kauai's most vulnerable coastal communities?
With airports facing major disruptions, how long could tourists and residents remain stranded if Lowell severely damages Hawaii's critical infrastructure?
How will Hurricane Lowell's collision with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch unleash a devastating wave of toxic debris onto Hawaii's protected marine sanctuary?