As Hurricane Lowell approaches the Hawaiian Islands, residents face heightened vigilance and preparation as forecasters predict severe weather impacts including potential tornadoes and coastal flooding. Despite the threat posed by this Category 3 storm, communities in Hawaii are coming together to safeguard their homes and families while experts closely monitor the evolving situation, underscoring the spirit of resilience that characterizes the Aloha State.
Hurricane Lowell, which has intensified to a Category 3 storm in the Pacific Ocean, is inching closer to the Hawaiian islands, prompting urgent warnings from weather authorities. The United States National Hurricane Center has issued emergency hurricane and tropical storm alerts for the islands, urging residents and visitors alike to prepare for severe winds and the possibility of mudslides as early as Monday night local time. Meteorologists predict that Lowell will track just west of Hawaii’s northwestern main islands, particularly Niihau and Kauai, as well as nearby regions within the expansive Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.
In anticipation of the storm, Derek Kawakami, the Mayor of Kauai, has declared an emergency. The island faces significant risks, with forecasts suggesting potential coastal flooding of up to 1 meter (3 feet) due to storm surges and high tides. As Lowell moves north at approximately 9 km/h (6 mph), it is vital for the community to remain vigilant, given the serious implications of the storm.
Initially forming as a tropical depression on August 27, Lowell has alternated between Category 3 and Category 5 strength. It reached its peak intensity as a Category 5 hurricane, with winds clocking in at 257 km/h (160 mph), marking it as the second Category 5 hurricane of the Pacific season. The storm’s ability to regain strength has drawn parallels with past hurricanes that have shown similar patterns, notably Emilia in 1994 and Ioke in 2006. While Ioke is remembered as the strongest storm in the central Pacific, Kauai has felt the weight of past hurricanes, like Hurricane Inike in 1992, which dealt substantial damages and loss of life.
Forecasters predict that Lowell could dump between 150mm to 250mm (6 to 10 inches) of rain across the islands, with localized totals reaching as high as 360mm (14 inches). As of now, Lowell is located approximately 895 km (about 555 miles) southwest of Honolulu, with maximum sustained winds of 195km/h (120 mph).
Local officials are urgently instructing residents and visitors to prepare for the possibility of heavy downpours and gusty winds, which could lead to flash flooding and hazardous mudslides. The National Weather Service has warned that tornadoes, though rare in Hawaii, may be spawned by such tropical systems, particularly in the rain bands extending beyond the storm’s center.
In response to the imminent threat, Kauai’s Emergency Management Agency has urged residents to proactively stock up on essential supplies—fuel, food, and water—while gearing up for the likelihood of remaining indoors for several days. Forecasts also warn of dangerous surf and rip currents, advising visitors to avoid ocean activities as conditions deteriorate along the coast.
As residents in the small town of Lihue rush to grocery stores, the panic-buying reflects the urgency of the situation, as they prepare for the storm’s impact on their daily lives. Real estate agent Lori Benkert, among those preparing, has taken precautions such as securing propane for cooking in case of power outages. She notes, “We’ll lose some power, probably have some trees, a bunch of tree limbs coming down. Everybody is probably just going to hunker down.”
Meanwhile, another Category 1 storm, Hurricane Marie, is forming approximately 1,120 km (695 miles) south-southwest of San Diego, impacting coastal areas with dangerous surf conditions as it tracks northwest.
Hawaii experiences an average of just one tornado each year, with only 42 tornadoes recorded from 1950 to 2018, according to Stephen Parker, a meteorologist with the weather service office in Honolulu. As Hurricane Lowell draws near, the people of Hawaii remain steadfast, embodying a spirit of resilience and unity in the face of natural adversity.
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