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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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Hurricane Lowell remained a powerful storm in the Pacific on Tuesday, but forecasters predicted it would gradually weaken as it continues to move past Hawaii. Even so, officials warned the hurricane could continue generating hazardous surf, heavy rain and gusty winds across parts of the island chain, prompting residents to closely monitor forecasts and advisories.
While Lowell is not expected to strike Hawaii directly, the storm remains large enough to pose risks across the state, particularly along exposed coastlines. Forecasters say dangerous surf, localized flooding and strong winds could still affect portions of the islands as the hurricane passes nearby and begins its anticipated weakening trend.
Hurricane Lowell is expected to weaken to a tropical storm later on Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) predicted, and it will remain a tropical storm at least through Sunday.
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Hurricane Lowell Live Tracker Maps
As of the most recent NHC update on Tuesday morning, Hurricane Lowell was around 145 miles northwest of Lihue, on Kauai, and moving north, away from Hawaii, at 18 miles per hour. Hurricane Lowell is currently a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained wind speeds of 90 mph.
Numerous warnings remain in place as the storm treks further away from Hawaii, with NHC forecasters warning that wind, rain, storm surge, and dangerous surf remain hazardous to Hawaii.
Although Lowell is a Category 1 hurricane, winds are gusting much stronger than its sustained 90 mph. Animated weather footage from windy.com shows some of the strongest gusts clocking in at over 115 mph.
Heavy rain accompanying the storm is also expected to continue, with as much as nearly 3 inches of rain expected over the next 24 hours in Kauai, according to Windy.com.
Waves also remain dangerous, with seas as high as 35 feet near the storm's eye, Windy.com showed. Closer to Hawaii, waves are still large enough to prompt numerous warnings from the local weather office.
Hurricane Lowell: Full List of Hawaii Warnings
Hawaii remained under numerous weather alerts and warnings from the National Weather Service (NWS) on Tuesday. The full list of warnings includes:
- Hurricane Warning: A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for Kauai and Niihau, though forecasters say threats from Lowell are decreasing as the storm moves away and weakens.
- Tropical Storm Warning: A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for much of Oahu, including Honolulu, the North Shore, Windward Oahu and the Waianae Coast, where Lowell could bring sustained winds of 15 to 35 mph with gusts as high as 55 mph. Forecasters warned that tropical storm-force winds of 39 to 57 mph remain possible, raising the risk of downed tree limbs, scattered power outages, debris on roadways and hazardous travel conditions.
- High Surf Warning: A High Surf Warning remains in effect through 6 p.m. HST Tuesday for south-facing shores across Hawaii and west-facing shores of the Big Island, where large swells generated by Hurricane Lowell are producing dangerous surf. Wave heights of 20 to 30 feet along parts of Kauai and 15 to 25 feet on some Oahu shores are expected to decline rapidly through the day, but forecasters warned that powerful waves, strong rip currents and ocean water sweeping across beaches, roads and coastal areas could still cause damage to infrastructure and hazardous conditions for motorists and boaters.
- Flood Advisory: A Flood Advisory remains in effect for Oahu until 7:30 a.m. HST as bands of moderate to heavy rain continue moving across the island. Forecasters said rainfall rates of 0.5 to 1 inch per hour could lead to minor flooding on roads, in low-lying and poor-drainage areas, and along streams, with flooding already ongoing or expected to develop. Residents are being urged to avoid streams, drainage ditches and flood-prone areas until conditions improve.
- High Surf Advisory: A High Surf Advisory remains in effect until 6 p.m. HST Tuesday for east-facing shores across Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and the Big Island, where surf of 7 to 10 feet is creating hazardous ocean conditions. Forecasters warned that strong breaking waves and powerful currents will make swimming dangerous, though surf is expected to gradually subside later in the day.
- Small Craft Advisory: A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect until 6 p.m. HST Tuesday for waters surrounding Maui County and the Big Island, including the Kaiwi, Pailolo and Alenuihaha channels. Forecasters warned that south winds of up to 25 knots and seas reaching 10 feet will create hazardous conditions for small vessels, increasing the risk for inexperienced mariners and those operating smaller boats.
- Flood Watch: A Flood Watch remains in effect through Tuesday afternoon for Kauai, Niihau, Oahu, Maui County and the Big Island as moisture associated with Hurricane Lowell continues to bring periods of heavy rainfall across the state. Forecasters warned that excessive rain could trigger flash flooding, with flood-prone roads, low-lying areas and streams particularly vulnerable to rising water, while rapid runoff could lead to urban flooding and property damage.
What Happens Next
Forecasters expect Hurricane Lowell to continue weakening as it moves away from Hawaii, but its lingering moisture and large swells will keep impacts in place through Tuesday. Flooding rains, gusty winds and hazardous surf are expected to gradually subside later in the day, allowing many warnings and advisories to expire by Tuesday evening if conditions improve as forecast.
Residents are still being urged to monitor updates from the NWS, as localized flooding and dangerous ocean conditions may persist even after the storm pulls farther away.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Samantha Beech and Sam Wilson.
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