Hurricane Lowell approached the western Hawaiian Islands on Monday as a Category 2 storm, prompting a state of emergency and closures. The National Hurricane Center reported that the storm reached Category 5 strength on Friday and carried sustained winds of 150 mph on Saturday morning before weakening to a Category 2 by Monday afternoon. Officials issued a hurricane warning for Kauai County and a tropical storm warning for Oahu as the storm's trajectory shifted slightly eastward.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green declared a state of emergency for the state on Thursday, September 3, to free up resources and activate the Hawaii National Guard. Lowell is the third tropical system to threaten the state in three weeks, following Hurricane Lala and Tropical Storm Moke. Governor Green attributed the frequency of storms to El Niño conditions. Green noted that the state is still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Lala, which caused significant flooding on the Big Island in mid-August.
In preparation for the storm, officials announced that public schools, county offices, and state offices on Kauai would be closed on Tuesday, September 8. The National Weather Service warned of 6 to 10 inches of additional rainfall for Kauai, with isolated totals up to 16 inches, raising the risk of significant flash flooding and mudslides. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HEMA) also warned of extremely dangerous surf and the possibility of tornadoes through Monday night on Kauai and Niihau.
The logistical impact includes the closure of government offices and public schools on Kauai on September 8, as well as the closure of state parks, such as the Napali Coast State Wilderness Park, to camping. The storm follows damage from Hurricane Lala, which flooded the Big Island and required relief efforts, including a 40-foot shipping container of donations organized by Maui County.
What happens next depends on the storm's exact track as it passes the islands between Monday night and Tuesday morning. If the storm follows a path similar to 1992's Hurricane Iniki, officials warned of tragic consequences. Residents will likely face a recovery period involving flood clearing and utility restoration. Meanwhile, meteorologists are monitoring other potential systems, including Tropical Storm Norbert.