Escalation: Hurricane Lowell turns north toward Hawaii

Lowell has begun its northward turn. It is a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 120 mph, about 535 miles south-southwest of Līhuʻe and moving northwest at 6 mph. It is expected to accelerate toward the north and north-northeast through Monday night and pass just west of Kauaʻi late Monday.

Hurricane‑force winds extend 50 miles from the center, with tropical‑storm‑force winds out to 175 miles. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Kauaʻi County, and a hurricane warning covers the waters from Nīhoa to French Frigate Shoals. Tropical storm conditions are expected on Kauaʻi and Niʻihau by late Monday, with peak sustained winds of 35 to 45 mph and gusts to 60 mph from Monday afternoon into early Tuesday. The 50‑knot wind field is forecast to clip Niʻihau in about 36 hours, raising the chance of hurricane‑force gusts if the track nudges east or in high terrain. Gradual weakening begins tonight, but the system is expected to remain a hurricane as it passes near the islands.

A flood watch is up statewide. Kauaʻi could see 6 to 10 inches of rain with local totals over 14 inches, bringing a risk of flash flooding and mudslides. Surf on south‑facing shores of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau is forecast to build to 20 to 30 feet Monday afternoon and evening, and localized storm surge of 1 to 3 feet is possible in Kauaʻi County from Monday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon, with destructive waves along immediate coasts near and to the right of the center.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources