Hurricane Lowell made landfall in Hawaii on Tuesday, bringing intense winds and heavy rainfall that triggered widespread power outages and issued flood and tornado watches for more than a million people. The Category 2 hurricane, with sustained winds exceeding 100 mph, has significantly impacted the islands of Kauai and O'ahu, the latter being home to the state's capital, Honolulu.
As of Tuesday morning, approximately 90 percent of Kauai had lost power, affecting an estimated 100,000 residents and tourists. On O'ahu, more than 26,000 customers were without electricity. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued a severe flash flood and hurricane warning for both islands.
Mudslides are a concern for the Big Island, where up to ten inches of rain are expected. This comes just three weeks after Hurricane Lala caused similar conditions, destroying over 100 homes. Governor Josh Green has urged residents and visitors to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel, particularly in flood-prone areas.
Lowell's approach from the south brings additional threats, including life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along the coast, anticipated to persist through Tuesday and into Wednesday. Hawaii has recently exited its peak summer travel season, a period marked by heightened vulnerability to tropical cyclones. Lowell is the second hurricane to significantly affect the islands this month; Hurricane Lala in mid-August was responsible for at least two fatalities and billions in property damage.
Experts forecast rainfall across all Hawaiian islands, with heavy downpours expected to cause flash flooding and potential mudslides. Wind gusts are projected to reach 40-60 mph on O'ahu, with higher gusts of 60-80 mph on Kauai and up to 80-90 mph on Ni'ihau and higher elevations of Kauai. High-altitude data was gathered on the storm's approach by hurricane hunters from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
