HONOLULU — Forecasters upgraded Kauai County to a Tropical Storm Warning early Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, and issued a Hurricane Warning for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument from Nihoa to French Frigate Shoals as Category 3 Hurricane Lowell (EP122026) began its northward turn toward the western Hawaiian Islands, according to Central Pacific Hurricane Center / National Hurricane Center Public Advisory 42.

At 5:00 a.m. HST (1500 UTC), Lowell’s center was near 14.7°N, 163.8°W — about 580 miles south-southwest of Lihue and 600 miles southwest of Honolulu — moving north-northwest near 6 mph. Maximum sustained winds were 125 mph with higher gusts; minimum central pressure was estimated at 943 mb. A turn toward the north and north-northeast with faster forward speed is expected over the next couple of days, bringing the center across monument waters just west of the main islands Monday night.

A Tropical Storm Warning means tropical-storm conditions are expected somewhere in Kauai County, including Kauai and Niihau, within 36 hours. The Hurricane Warning means hurricane conditions are expected in the monument warning area — typically issued about 36 hours before the first tropical-storm-force winds. NHC said tropical-storm conditions are expected in Kauai County by Monday afternoon or evening, with hurricane conditions possible between Nihoa and French Frigate Shoals Monday night.

Rainfall remains the chief inland threat. Advisory 42 forecasts 6 to 10 inches on Kauai (local totals to 14 inches), 4 to 8 inches on the Big Island (isolated 12 inches), 2 to 4 inches on Maui (isolated 8 inches), and 2 to 4 inches elsewhere — enough for “significant flash flooding and mudslides,” especially in steep Kauai County and Big Island terrain. CNN Weather, citing later NHC track guidance, said Lowell’s center is expected to pass roughly 120–160 miles west of Niihau/Kauai and weaken toward Category 2 strength on closest approach, while Gov. Josh Green’s statewide emergency declaration keeps National Guard and high-water assets staged for Kauai.

Insanity Developing covered Saturday’s first Kauai Tropical Storm Watch when Lowell was still a Category 4. Sunday’s Advisory 42 is the step up from watch to warning as the storm finally turns.

Sources