Hawaii Governor Orders School and Office Closures as Hurricane Lowell Approaches
Governor Josh Green shut schools and government offices on Kauai, Niihau and Oahu for Tuesday while Hurricane Lowell, a Category 2 storm, is forecast to pass near the islands, bringing heavy rain and strong winds.
Governor Josh Green ordered the closure of schools, community colleges and state and county offices on Kauai, Niihau and Oahu for Tuesday as Hurricane Lowell moved toward the islands. The National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane warning for Kauai County and a tropical storm warning for Oahu, which together house more than a million residents.
The storm is expected to bring up to 24 inches of rain on parts of Kauai, along with strong winds, mudslides, possible tornadoes and hazardous rip currents. The agency also warned of several tornadoes possible near Kauai and Niihau during the evening and overnight hours, with additional tornado risk for other islands.
"Closing offices, schools and courts will help keep people off the roads during dangerous conditions and allow emergency crews to focus on protecting our communities," Green said in a news release. "I urge everyone in Kaua’i County to remain indoors, avoid unnecessary travel and follow all official emergency instructions."
He also advised residents to stay away from shorelines, avoid driving through floodwaters, prepare for power outages and monitor updates. Isolated rainfall of up to 10 inches is forecast for Oahu and Maui, while parts of the Big Island could see around 12 inches.