Hurricane Lowell: Rainbands spread over Kauai and Oahu under Hurricane Warning
HONOLULU — Rainbands from Category 3 Hurricane Lowell were spreading over Kauai and Oahu early Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, as a Hurricane Warning remained in effect for Kauai County and parts of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, according to Central Pacific Hurricane Center Intermediate Advisory 45A.
At 2:00 a.m. HST (1200 UTC), Lowell’s center was near 17.0°N, 163.0°W — about 415 miles southwest of Lihue and 445 miles southwest of Honolulu — moving north-northeast near 10 mph. Maximum sustained winds were 115 mph; minimum central pressure was estimated at 950 mb. On the forecast track, the center was expected to pass across monument waters just west of the main Hawaiian Islands Monday night while remaining a hurricane.
A Hurricane Warning covers Kauai County, including Kauai and Niihau, and the monument from Nihoa to French Frigate Shoals. Forecasters said hurricane conditions are expected in Kauai County beginning Monday afternoon or evening, with tropical-storm conditions beginning Monday afternoon in the monument warning area.
Additional rainfall totals of 6 to 10 inches are forecast for Kauai (local maxima to 14 inches), 4 to 8 inches for the Big Island (isolated 12), 4 to 6 inches for Oahu (isolated 8), and 2 to 4 inches for Maui (isolated 8) — enough for significant flash flooding and mudslides, especially in Kauai County and parts of the Big Island. Storm surge could reach 1–3 feet above ground in Kauai County and up to 1 foot on Oahu. Several tornadoes are possible near Kauai and Niihau Monday afternoon through tonight, with life-threatening surf and rip currents across many islands.
Insanity Developing covered Sunday’s Tropical Storm Warning upgrade when Lowell was still tracking north as a Category 3. Monday’s Advisory 45A is the rainbands-over-islands update as the Hurricane Warning holds.
Sources
- NWS Central Pacific Hurricane Center / NHC — Hurricane Lowell Intermediate Advisory Number 45A, 2:00 a.m. HST Sept. 7, 2026 (EP122026)
- Insanity Developing — Hurricane Lowell: Tropical Storm Warning for Kauai as Cat 3 turns north, Sept. 6, 2026
- NOAA/NESDIS/STAR — GOES-West GeoColor eastern Pacific sector imagery
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