Hurricane Lowell Brings Tropical Storm Threat to Hawaii’s Islands

Officials across Hawaii are sounding the alarm as Hurricane Lowell, a beefy Category 3 cyclone, drifts toward the islands. The National Hurricane Center, based in Miami, issued a tropical‑storm warning for Kauai and Niihau on Sunday, warning locals that the worst of the rain and wind will arrive late Monday and linger into Tuesday.

What does that mean on the ground? Forecasters are talking about anywhere from six to ten inches of rain – that’s about 15‑25 cm – with pockets that could see as much as 14 inches (roughly 36 cm). The Big Island isn’t getting off the hook either; it could get four to eight inches, and a few spots might even reach a full foot of water.

Lowell is packing sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and sits roughly 545 miles south‑southwest of Lihue, the main town on Kauai, and about 565 miles from Honolulu. It’s moving north at a leisurely six miles per hour, so the storm’s outer bands will have plenty of time to unload their moisture.

Wind fields are also a concern. Hurricane‑force gusts extend up to 50 miles from the eye, while tropical‑storm‑force winds fan out to about 175 miles. Those winds, combined with the rain, could trigger flash floods and mudslides, especially on steep, rain‑slick slopes.

Coastal flooding is another headache. The forecast calls for storm‑surge‑related water to creep up to three feet (one metre) onto normally dry shoreline on Kauai, a scenario that could trap cars and knock out power for hours.

Local agencies are urging everyone – residents and tourists alike – to fill gas tanks, charge phones, restock prescription meds, and stash enough food and water for a few days. In Lihue, a town of about 8,000, grocery aisles have been clearing out fast.

Real‑estate agent Lori Benkert shared a personal checklist: a 10‑pound propane tank for a backup grill, boarded‑up houses on the west side of the island, and a mental note that tree limbs will probably be dropping like matchsticks. “We’ll lose some power, probably have some trees… everybody is probably going just to hunker down,” she said.

While Hawaii deals with Lowell, a different storm – Hurricane Marie – is churning off the coast of Mexico. Although no warnings have been issued for the U.S., the swell generated by Marie is expected to bring dangerous surf and rip currents to Baja California, Southern California and parts of southwest Mexico over the next few days.

Stay tuned to local broadcasts, keep an eye on the National Hurricane Center updates, and don’t forget to double‑check that you have a flashlight and batteries handy. Better safe than sorry when a big storm rolls through.