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Hurricane Lowell threatens Hawaiian islands with life-threatening surf
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- Hurricane Lowell, currently a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 145 mph, is forecast to pass just west of the major Hawaiian islands by Monday night, potentially causing life-threatening conditions including mudslides and heavy rainfall, especially in Kauai.
- The National Hurricane Center warns of up to 10 inches of rain in Kauai and 8 inches in Maui, with dangerous waves and flooding expected, prompting storm watches and emergency preparations by state officials.
- Hawaii’s Governor Josh Green has urged residents, particularly in Kauai County, to complete preparations and heed official alerts, while the state is securing harbors, deploying emergency personnel, and monitoring dam safety.
- Hurricane Lowell is one of three active tropical cyclones in the Northeast Pacific, alongside Hurricane Karina and Tropical Storm Marie, with the latter expected to bring high surf to Southern California over the holiday weekend.
- The unusually active hurricane season is linked to warm ocean waters and an El Niño event, which scientists say is intensified by climate change, increasing the strength and frequency of tropical storms in the region.
