Hawaii declares emergency as Hurricane Lowell approaches
Governor Josh Green announced a state of emergency as Hurricane Lowell, forecast to hit as a Category 2 storm, moves toward the islands, bringing heavy rain, surf and wind threats.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green declared a state of emergency on Saturday as Hurricane Lowell advanced toward the islands, with the first impacts expected as early as Monday. The storm, currently a Category 3 system with sustained winds of 125 mph, is forecast to weaken to Category 2 before reaching the region. Its center is projected to pass about 130 miles west of Ni’ihau and 170 miles west of Kauai between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.
The National Hurricane Center said the storm’s offshore track should keep the most severe winds away from the main islands, but heavy rainfall, high surf and hazardous coastal conditions remain likely. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Kauai and Ni’ihau, with wind gusts above 39 mph possible over the next 48 hours.
Lowell is the third tropical system to threaten Hawaii in just over three weeks, following Hurricane Lala and Tropical Storm Moke, which caused significant damage earlier this season. The governor previously reported that Lala caused at least $43 million in infrastructure damage on the Big Island and $4.6 million in residential damage.
The Pacific is experiencing an unusually active period, with three hurricanes—Karina, Lowell and Marie—simultaneously present, a phenomenon not seen in a decade. The region’s average is eight hurricanes per year, making the current triple-hurricane situation rare. The National Hurricane Center also monitors a potential fourth system off Mexico’s coast.
Scientists note that the ongoing El Niño event, projected to be the strongest in four decades, may influence the season’s activity, though the direct link to individual storms is not quantified.