HONOLULU — Hurricane Lowell (EP122026) was closing in on the western Hawaiian Islands Monday evening, with the National Hurricane Center warning of dangerous conditions for Niihau, Kauai, and Oahu — flash flooding, damaging waves, and high winds — in Public Advisory 48 issued at 5:00 p.m. HST (0300 UTC Tuesday).

Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft located Lowell’s center near 20.3°N, 161.3°W — about 170 miles southwest of Lihue and 230 miles west-southwest of Honolulu — moving north-northeast near 18 mph. Maximum sustained winds were near 110 mph with higher gusts; the latest aircraft-estimated central pressure was 956 mb. Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 70 miles from the center; tropical-storm-force winds reached about 175 miles.

A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for Kauai County (Kauai and Niihau) and for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument from Nihoa to French Frigate Shoals. A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for Oahu. On the forecast track, Lowell’s core is expected to pass near or just west of Niihau tonight and early Tuesday before turning northwest and slowing after clearing the islands.

Hurricane conditions are expected in Kauai County beginning this evening; tropical storm conditions are expected on Oahu this evening. Lihue Airport on Kauai had already reported sustained winds of 38 mph with a gust to 49 mph when the advisory was issued. NHC expects additional rainfall of 6 to 10 inches on Kauai (local totals up to 16 inches possible), 4 to 8 inches on the Big Island (isolated 12 inches), and 4 to 8 inches for Oahu and Maui County (isolated 10 inches) — enough for significant flash flooding and mudslides, especially in steep terrain on Kauai and parts of the Big Island.

Storm surge of 2–4 feet is possible in Kauai County (highest along Kauai’s south coast and Niihau) and up to about 1 foot on Oahu if peak surge coincides with high tide. Several tornadoes are possible near Kauai and Niihau this afternoon through overnight, with a few possible across the rest of the islands. Swells from Lowell remain a life-threatening surf and rip-current threat across many Hawaiian islands for several days. The next complete advisory was due at 11:00 p.m. HST.

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