Hurricane Lowell Pounds Hawaii as Storms Fuel Travel Delays

Hurricane Lowell threatened Hawaii's major islands, including Kauai and Ni'ihau, with life-threatening conditions, heavy rainfall, and strong winds. The Category 4 hurricane was forecast to pass just west of the islands on Monday night, but its center could have brought tropical storm conditions to parts of the island chain. The National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm warning for Kauai County, including the islands of Kauai and Ni'ihau, as Lowell was expected to bring rainfall totals of 6-10 inches, with maximum totals of 14 inches possible.

Lowell's path shifted slightly to the east, increasing the likelihood of significant impacts for Kauai County. The hurricane had already weakened from a Category 3 to a Category 2 storm by Monday evening, but its strong winds and heavy rain still posed a threat to the islands. Tens of thousands of homes and businesses lost power as Lowell passed by Hawaii on Tuesday morning.

The storm's center moved within 110 miles northwest of Lihue, the county seat of Kauai County, and 215 miles west-northwest of Honolulu. Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 70 miles from the storm's center, and the hurricane had the potential to pour up to 2 feet of rain on parts of the island chain.

As a result of Lowell's expected impacts, public schools, county offices, and state offices on Kauai were closed on Tuesday. The National Hurricane Center warned of life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, as well as possible tornadoes, in areas affected by the storm.

Lowell was one of three storms to threaten Hawaii within a few weeks, marking an unusually active hurricane season in the central Pacific.