Hurricane Lowell nears Hawaii: state of emergency declared, tornado watch issued for Kauai
Powerful Hurricane Lowell is bearing down on Hawaii, threatening Kauai and Niihau with flooding, tornadoes and dangerous surf; the governor has declared a state of emergency, though sources disagree on the storm's exact category and expected rainfall.
Storm approaches Kauai and Niihau
Powerful Hurricane Lowell was bearing down on the western Hawaiian islands on Monday, threatening Kauai and Niihau with flooding, dangerous surf and strong winds. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned the storm's core could pass close to Niihau late Monday or early Tuesday. Hawaii Governor Josh Green had already declared a state of emergency the previous Thursday in preparation for potentially life-threatening conditions, according to FOX Weather.
A rare tornado watch was also issued for Kauai — according to FOX Weather, the first such watch issued by the National Weather Service's Honolulu office since at least 2008. The NHC warned that Lowell's outer bands could spawn tornadoes near Kauai and Niihau.
Conflicting data on the storm's strength
Sources disagree on Lowell's exact category at different points in time. Inquirer.net and FOX Weather reported Monday evening that the storm had weakened to Category 2, with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h), after briefly reaching Category 5 strength earlier in the week. The Guardian reported Sunday morning that Lowell was a Category 3 storm with 125 mph winds, forecasting it would weaken to Category 2 by the time it reached Hawaii. Nine.com.au, however, reported Tuesday that the storm had been downgraded to Category 3 — meaning the reports differ on the storm's precise strength at various times.
Rainfall forecasts also vary: Inquirer.net cited 4-8 inches of rain for Kauai and 3-8 inches for the Big Island, while FOX Weather forecast 6-10 inches (locally up to 16 inches) for Kauai and 4-6 inches (up to 12 inches) for the Big Island. On wave heights, FOX Weather cited 20-30 feet (roughly 6-9 meters) along south- and west-facing shores, while Nine.com.au, citing the Weather Channel, reported waves up to 4.2 meters.
Context — an active storm season
Lowell is the third storm to threaten Hawaii within weeks — following Tropical Storm Moke and Hurricane Lala, which Governor Green said caused at least $43 million in infrastructure damage and $4.6 million in home damage on the Big Island. At the same time, three hurricanes — Karina, Lowell and Marie — were active simultaneously in the Pacific, which The Guardian described as the region's first such stretch in a decade. The situation is being amplified by an unusually strong El Niño, which the UN has described as "supersized," fueling hurricane activity across the Pacific. Australia's Smartraveller travel advisory has urged tourists in Hawaii to monitor local media and follow emergency guidance.
