Hawaii declares state of emergency as Hurricane Lowell approaches islands

Key Points:

• Hawaii has declared a state of emergency as Hurricane Lowell, a category 3 storm with 125 mph winds, approaches the islands, expected to impact as early as Monday with heavy rain, high surf, and dangerous coastal conditions.
• Lowell is forecasted to pass offshore as a category 2 hurricane, about 130 miles west of Ni’ihau and 170 miles west of Kauai, prompting tropical storm warnings for these areas.
• This marks the third hurricane threat to Hawaii in just over three weeks during an unusually active Pacific hurricane season, with Hurricanes Karina, Lowell, and Marie simultaneously active—the first triple-hurricane event in a decade.
• The recent surge in storm activity, including Tropical Storm Moke and Hurricane Lala, has caused significant damage, with Lala alone causing over $47 million in damage on the Big Island, highlighting the increasing intensity of storms linked to the climate crisis.
• The heightened hurricane activity coincides with a strong El Niño event, predicted to be the strongest in 40 years, which is expected to continue through February 2027 and contribute to extreme weather worldwide by altering rainfall and temperature patterns.