HONOLULU — Hurricane Lowell is closing on the northwestern Hawaiian Islands with flash flooding, damaging waves, and high winds expected, the National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center said in Advisory 47 issued at 1100 AM HST Monday, Sept. 7, 2026 (2100 UTC).

At advisory time, Lowell’s center was near 18.7°N, 161.8°W — about 275 miles (445 km) southwest of Lihue and 310 miles (500 km) southwest of Honolulu. Maximum sustained winds had decreased to near 110 mph (175 km/h) with higher gusts, down from Category 3 strength earlier, and the estimated minimum central pressure was 955 mb. The storm was moving north-northeast near 17 mph (28 km/h).

A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for Kauai County, including Kauai and Niihau, and for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument from Nihoa to French Frigate Shoals. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Oahu. NHC/CPHC said hurricane conditions are expected in Kauai County beginning this afternoon or evening, with tropical storm conditions expected on Oahu on a similar timeline.

On the forecast track, the core of Lowell is expected to pass near or just west of Niihau tonight and early Tuesday. Gradual weakening is forecast through Tuesday, but Lowell is expected to remain a hurricane while it passes the Hawaiian Islands before turning northwest and slowing by early Wednesday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds out to 175 miles. Lihue Airport on Kauai recently reported sustained winds of 33 mph with a gust to 44 mph, the advisory said.

Rainfall: Additional totals of 6 to 10 inches are expected on Kauai, with isolated amounts up to 16 inches possible. The Big Island is forecast for 4 to 8 inches (isolated 12 inches); Oahu and Maui County 4 to 8 inches (isolated 10 inches). Significant flash flooding and mudslides are possible, especially across Kauai County and portions of the Big Island.

Storm surge: Kauai County faces 2 to 4 feet of inundation above ground, with the highest values along Kauai’s south coast and Niihau; Oahu could see up to 1 foot. Several tornadoes are possible near Kauai and Niihau this afternoon through overnight, with a few also possible across the remainder of the Hawaiian Islands. Life-threatening surf and rip currents are likely for several days.

This Advisory 47 update follows earlier Insanity Developing coverage of Lowell’s rainbands and Oahu tropical-storm watches as the storm moved closer with impacts now imminent for Kauai County.

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