Hurricane Lowell is forecasted to make a turn towards the state Sunday
By Pixie Clay, Derrick Malama, Jason Ubay
September 2, 2026 at 10:57 AM HST
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The Central Pacific Hurricane Center said Friday that Lowell had re-strengthened to a category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 150 mph. Some additional intensification is possible, and the storm could regain category 5 strength later Friday night.
Lowell is 615 miles south of Līhuʻe and continues to move west-southwest at nearly 7 mph. It’s expected to continue this path at a decreased speed followed by a sharp northward turn on Sunday. It's expected to move close to the western Hawaiian Islands late Monday and Monday night.
"Current forecast models show Lowell making that sharp turn west of the Hawaiian Islands, but it's still dangerously close," John Bravender, Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Honolulu, told HPR.
"There's a lot of uncertainty with very sharp changes in directions like we expect Lowell to take," he said. "There's a possibility that it could come closer than we have it forecast now, and it could more directly impact part of the state, particularly Kauaʻi County."
Hurricane Lowell is expected to produce rainfall that may cause flash flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain. (3300x2550, AR: 1.2941176470588236)
Forecasters said that regardless of the hurricane's exact track and intensity, there's a risk of storm surge, wind and rainfall that will impact portions of the state early next week.
Lowell is expected to produce rainfall that may cause flash flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain. Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island is forecast to get 3 to 6 inches of rain with isolated areas seeing up to 10 inches. For Maui, 2 to 4 inches of rain is expected, with isolated areas possibly seeing 8 inches. Across the remaining islands, rainfall of 1 to 2 inches with maximum amounts of 4 inches is possible.
Ocean swells from Lowell is likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions for some of the state during the next several days. These swells are likely to increase early next week.
Gov. Josh Green has signed an emergency proclamation covering the entire state in preparation for the potential impacts from Hurricane Lowell, Hurricane Karina, and any additional storms. It allows state and county agencies to mobilize personnel, equipment and resources more quickly as the state continues to recover from Hurricane Lala.
“Our state is still recovering from Lala, and we are not waiting for another storm to get close before preparing,” Governor Green said in a statement. “This proclamation gives our agencies and counties the flexibility to move people, equipment and resources quickly so we can protect communities across every island."
Six high-water vehicles were sent to Kauaʻi as part of the state's preparation. Hawaiʻi National Guard members will also be activated in advance of potential storm impacts.
Meanwhile, Karina is a category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 90 mph. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center said it’s expected to continue weakening over the next two days. Karina is 955 miles east of Hilo and moving westward. It’s expected to turn northwest over the next couple of days.
Further east, Hurricane Marie is 550 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Marie is moving toward the west-northwest at roughly 9 mph. Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center said slow weakening trend is expected to begin on Saturday.
The Central Pacific Hurricane Center said Friday that Lowell had re-strengthened to a category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 150 mph. Some additional intensification is possible, and the storm could regain category 5 strength later Friday night.
Lowell is 615 miles south of Līhuʻe and continues to move west-southwest at nearly 7 mph. It’s expected to continue this path at a decreased speed followed by a sharp northward turn on Sunday. It's expected to move close to the western Hawaiian Islands late Monday and Monday night.
"Current forecast models show Lowell making that sharp turn west of the Hawaiian Islands, but it's still dangerously close," John Bravender, Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Honolulu, told HPR.
"There's a lot of uncertainty with very sharp changes in directions like we expect Lowell to take," he said. "There's a possibility that it could come closer than we have it forecast now, and it could more directly impact part of the state, particularly Kauaʻi County."
Hurricane Lowell is expected to produce rainfall that may cause flash flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain. (3300x2550, AR: 1.2941176470588236)
Forecasters said that regardless of the hurricane's exact track and intensity, there's a risk of storm surge, wind and rainfall that will impact portions of the state early next week.
Lowell is expected to produce rainfall that may cause flash flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain. Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island is forecast to get 3 to 6 inches of rain with isolated areas seeing up to 10 inches. For Maui, 2 to 4 inches of rain is expected, with isolated areas possibly seeing 8 inches. Across the remaining islands, rainfall of 1 to 2 inches with maximum amounts of 4 inches is possible.
Ocean swells from Lowell is likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions for some of the state during the next several days. These swells are likely to increase early next week.
Gov. Josh Green has signed an emergency proclamation covering the entire state in preparation for the potential impacts from Hurricane Lowell, Hurricane Karina, and any additional storms. It allows state and county agencies to mobilize personnel, equipment and resources more quickly as the state continues to recover from Hurricane Lala.
“Our state is still recovering from Lala, and we are not waiting for another storm to get close before preparing,” Governor Green said in a statement. “This proclamation gives our agencies and counties the flexibility to move people, equipment and resources quickly so we can protect communities across every island."
Six high-water vehicles were sent to Kauaʻi as part of the state's preparation. Hawaiʻi National Guard members will also be activated in advance of potential storm impacts.
Meanwhile, Karina is a category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 90 mph. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center said it’s expected to continue weakening over the next two days. Karina is 955 miles east of Hilo and moving westward. It’s expected to turn northwest over the next couple of days.
Further east, Hurricane Marie is 550 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Marie is moving toward the west-northwest at roughly 9 mph. Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center said slow weakening trend is expected to begin on Saturday.