Escalation: Hurricane Lowell Brings Heavy Rain, Tornado

Lowell’s center passed about 90 miles west of Lihue as it skirted Kauai. Damaging winds, flooding rain and large, dangerous surf hit the western islands, and the storm carried a risk of tornadoes.

Kauai saw hurricane-force gusts, including 85 mph at Waimea and 84 mph at Lihue. An 80 mph gust was also recorded near Kula in Maui’s interior.

On Maui, debris and floodwater covered roads, erosion was reported in South and West Maui, and North Kīhei Road remained closed in the morning. Rain bands kept driving flash flooding on Sept. 8, and the hazards included floods, mudslides and tornadoes on Kauai.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources