Storm updates: Hurricane Lowell continues north past Kauaʻi County

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The center of Hurricane Lowell is now moving north-northwest of Niʻihau. Damaging winds, heavy rain, and powerful waves impacted Kauaʻi County late Monday through early Tuesday. Downed trees and power lines have caused widespread power outages for Kauaʻi.

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NOAA

Here's the latest information on Hurricane Lowell:

• As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, Hurricane Lowell was approximately 245 miles northwest of Honolulu. Despite it moving away from the state, flash flooding across the Hawaiian Islands is still possible.
• Kauaʻi emergency officials are urging all residents and visitors to stay off roadways to allow first responders and emergency crews to continue operations and assess damage.
• The Hurricane Warning for Kauaʻi County was lifted Tuesday morning.
• KIUC reported over 33,300 customers, nearly 91% of its members, are being affected by storm-related power outages as of Tuesday at 8 a.m. The utility said due to extensive damage, it's not safe to attempt power restoration until Hurricane Lowell has passed and assessments can be made safely.
• Lowell is moving north at nearly 15 mph. This general motion is forecast through Tuesday, taking the core of Lowell farther from Kauaʻi County. Lowell is forecast to turn toward the west-northwest, slowing down on Wednesday and Thursday.
• Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph with higher gusts on Tuesday morning. It remains a Category 2 hurricane. Weakening is expected during the next few days.
• Gov. Josh Green announced that all state and county offices in Kauaʻi County and on Oʻahu, including state Department of Education schools and University of Hawaiʻi campuses, will be closed Tuesday because of expected storm impacts. “Closing offices and schools will help keep people off the roads, reduce unnecessary travel and allow emergency crews to focus on protecting our communities. Please remain indoors, avoid unnecessary travel and follow all official emergency instructions," Green said in a statement on Monday evening.
• Kauaʻi County is under a Flash Flood Watch until Tuesday at 6 p.m. County officials have closed Hanalei Bridge on Kauaʻi due to elevated water levels.
• The National Weather Service issued a Tornado Watch Monday afternoon for Kauaʻi County. That watch was lifted Tuesday morning.
• The state Department of Transportation closed the Līhuʻe Airport Monday due to impacts from Hurricane Lowell. HDOT reopened Līhuʻe Airport Tuesday morning. Travelers should check with their airline on the status of their flight prior to heading to the airport.
• The Tropical Storm Warning was dropped for Oʻahu on Tuesday morning, as Hurricane Lowell continued its northward path past the Hawaiian Islands.
  

  

  NOAA

• A Flood Watch for the main Hawaiian Islands remains in place until 6 p.m. Tuesday. Trailing moisture along the eastern flank of Hurricane Lowell will bring periods of heavy rain to the main Hawaiian Islands through Tuesday afternoon.

Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency

• Dangerous ocean conditions are expected over the next few days, including life-threatening surf and rip currents across many of the Hawaiian Islands. A combination of storm surge and tide will cause normally dry areas by the coast to be flooded. Kauaʻi and Niʻihau are forecast to get a surge of 2 to 4 feet. Oʻahu could get up to 1 foot of a storm surge. (See below for more details about storm surge and high surf impacts so far.)
• A High Surf Warning is in effect south-facing shores of all islands through 6 p.m. Tuesday. A High Surf Warning is in effect for the west shores of Hawaii Island. A High Surf Advisory has also been issued until 6 p.m. Tuesday for the east-facing shores of Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island.
• Because of the high surf, Hawaiʻi County's Park and Recreation closed the following facilities: Hōnaunau Boat Ramp, Kahaluʻu Beach Park, Laʻaloa Beach Park, Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area (known as Old A's strip), Kohanaiki Beach Park, and Māhukona Wharf.

Kauaʻi County

Kauaʻi County:

• The County of Kauaʻi is asking residents to document damage to their homes and property and report it to the Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency. Click here for the damage assessment form.
• Kauaʻi Department of Water has issued a water conservation notice for the island. Users should limit water use to essential needs only, including cooking, drinking, personal hygiene, laundry and sanitation.
• All County parks, campgrounds and the Wailua Golf Course are closed until further notice.
• All Department of Land and Natural Resources state parks and state forest reserves are closed until further notice.
• Shelters are available at Kīlauea Neighborhood Center, Kapaʻa Middle School, Kauaʻi High School, Kalaheo Neighborhood Center and Waimea Canyon Middle School. However, officials are saying shelters are "refuges of last resort." They're asking people to stay in structurally sound buildings rather than relying on shelters because they will not provide any supplies. Each person will get a 10 square-foot area, but this could go down to 7 square feet if shelters hit capacity. Pets are allowed in crates.
• The Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency will update the Refuge Area Status Page about shelter availability. Notifications for residents will be sent through its Everbridge system.
• Visitors can be added to Kauaʻi's mass notification system by texting KAUAIEMA to 888777 to stay updated about the storm
• On Saturday morning, Kawakami signed an emergency proclamation in anticipation of severe weather on Kauaʻi.

Kauaʻi County

Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation

Oʻahu:

• The National Weather Service has issued a high surf advisory and extended the flash flood watch for Oʻahu until 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
• Approximately 7,000 HECO customers are without power across the island. Areas with an outage include Nānākuli, Mākaha and Wahiawā.
• Nānākuli Elementary School has opened as a hurricane refuge area.
• Farrington Highway is closed in Nānākuli between Lualualei Naval Road and Hakimo Road due to debris from high surf. Waves have been reported crashing across all four lanes of the highway. The highway is expected to reopen at 3 p.m. Tuesday in Nānākuli and Mākaha. The highway is open between Kaukama Road and Hakimo Road in Māʻili.
• Honolulu-bound lanes of Farrington Highway in Mākaha have reopened between Orange Street and Mākaha Valley Road. This area was closed Monday afternoon and into the evening due to high surf washing sand onto the roadway.
• The Board of Water Supply is asking all Oʻahu residents to please use water sparingly and for priority needs only until further notice. This means using water for cooking, drinking and personal hygiene only.
• All permitted camping and outdoor park activities on Oʻahu are suspended until further notice.
• The Honolulu Zoo and all six municipal golf courses will be closed Tuesday.
• All YMCA of Honolulu branches and programs will be closed Tuesday.
• Along with all DOE schools on Oʻahu, most private schools, including Maryknoll School, Island Pacific Academy, Hanahauʻoli School and Le Jardin Academy also closed.
• All public libraries across the island will be closed on Tuesday.
• Flash flooding on the windward side of O‘ahu Sunday afternoon prompted the closure of Kamehameha Highway between Waikane Valley Road to Waiāhole Valley Road. Water levels at the Waiāhole Stream peaked at 16 feet, according to data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Water levels of the stream have since gone down. Department of Transportation crews worked to clear debris that washed onto roads and clogged the stream under the Waiāhole Bridge.

Maui County:

• Four West Maui public schools were closed Tuesday due to unsafe road conditions caused by Hurricane Lowell. They are Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena Elementary, King Kamehameha III Elementary, Lahaina Intermediate and Lahainaluna High.
• Overnight Tuesday, the Maui Police Department closed Honoapiʻilani Highway between Kapoli Street in Māʻalaea to Ehehene Street in Olowalu due to rocks and debris on the roadway. Barriers were also shifted onto the roadway.
• Several portions of South Kīhei Road were also closed due to debris from high surf.
• The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation said as of Tuesday at 9 a.m. that Kaumālapa‘u Harbor on Lāna‘i is inoperable. The department said staff would assess damage and present an estimated restoration schedule later on Tuesday.

Use these resources to stay informed on the storm’s progression:

• National Weather Service Honolulu Forecast Office — for the latest advisories, watches and warnings.
• Central Pacific Hurricane Center — offers storm tracking via satellite and radar. The Center posts updates at 5 a.m., 11 a.m., 5 p.m., and 11 p.m. HST.
• Hawaiian Electric and KIUC outage maps — track where the power's out on your island.

Additional resources from HPR: 

• The power goes out. What food stays and what gets thrown out?
• Document your life in these 5 ways before disaster strikes
• Tips from HPR's Conversation on hurricane preparedness