Hurricane warning issued for western Hawaii as Lowell approaches

A major Category 3 hurricane, named Lowell, made its way toward western Hawaii early Monday, bringing with it fierce 115-mph winds that prompted a hurricane warning for the islands of Kauai and Niihau. The hurricane warning extended to parts of the expansive Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, which spans nearly 583,000 square miles of ocean and covers 10 of Hawaii's islands. Lowell was projected to traverse portions of the national monument as it journeyed past the archipelago.

The National Hurricane Center forecasted that Lowell's center would pass just west of the main Hawaiian Islands on Monday night, subsequently decelerating by early Wednesday after surpassing them. They also predicted that the storm would continue to maintain its hurricane status as it neared the Hawaiian Islands. Hurricane-force winds stretched out up to 60 miles from the storm's core.

The center warned that Kauai could receive additional rainfall totals ranging from 6 to 10 inches, with the possibility of a maximum of 14 inches. The Big Island was expected to receive 4 to 8 inches of rain, with isolated totals of 12 inches possible. Oahu was forecasted to experience 4 to 6 inches of rain, with isolated totals of 8 inches.

Significant flash flooding and mudslides were anticipated in Kauai County and parts of Hawaii's Big Island due to the rain. The hurricane could also generate a storm surge of up to 3 feet in Kauai County and bring life-threatening surf and rip current conditions across many of the Hawaiian islands. Furthermore, the National Hurricane Center indicated that several tornadoes could potentially form near Kauai and Niihau on Monday afternoon through Monday night, as well as a few twisters across the rest of Hawaii.