Hawaii braces for Hurricane Lowell

What the report says

Hawaii is preparing for Hurricane Lowell, a Category 3 storm in the Pacific that forecasters said could bring damaging winds, heavy rain, flooding, mudslides and dangerous surf to parts of the island chain. The U.S. National Hurricane Center issued hurricane and tropical storm warnings on Sunday, with impacts expected to begin as early as Monday night local time. The storm was located southwest of Honolulu and was tracking northward toward the state’s northwestern islands.

Officials on Kauai moved first: Mayor Derek Kawakami issued an emergency proclamation, and county emergency managers urged residents to stock up on water, food, fuel and medications and be ready to remain indoors for several days. Local authorities also warned of possible coastal flooding, strong surf and rip currents, while forecasters said tornadoes could form in rain bands outside the storm’s center. The article says Kauai and nearby Niihau appear most exposed, though wind, rain and surf hazards could affect a wider area.

According to the report, Lowell developed from a tropical depression on Aug. 27 and has fluctuated in strength, briefly reaching Category 5 earlier in the week before weakening again. The story also notes that Hawaii, while accustomed to tropical weather, rarely sees tornadoes. Separately, the article mentions Hurricane Marie off southern California, which was generating dangerous surf along parts of Mexico’s Baja coast and Southern California.