Hurricane Lowell batters Hawaii's western islands with wind and rain
Hurricane Lowell lashes Kauai and Niihau with damaging winds and heavy rain, prompting school closures and warnings of floods and mudslides.
Hurricane Lowell pounded Hawaii's western islands overnight Tuesday, bringing destructive winds and torrential rain that raised the threat of flooding, mudslides, and tornadoes across the region.
The National Hurricane Center reported that the storm's center was passing west of the islands and gradually moving away, but tropical storm-force winds extended nearly 200 miles (320 kilometers). On Kauai, sustained winds at Lihue Airport exceeded 50 mph (80 kph), with gusts reaching up to 80 mph (130 kph). Although the storm had weakened by early Tuesday, forecasters expected it to continue losing strength in the coming days.
Kauai and the nearby island of Niihau were under a hurricane warning, while Oahu—home to nearly 1 million residents—was under a tropical storm warning. In response, Hawaii Governor Josh Green ordered schools and government offices closed on the three islands for Tuesday.
The National Weather Service cautioned that damaging winds, heavy flooding, and dangerous surf would persist across the islands through at least the morning, possibly lasting all day. Rainfall totals on Kauai could reach up to 24 inches (60 centimeters) in some areas.
The storm arrives just a month after Tropical Storm Lala brushed past Hawaii, triggering landslides that washed away roughly 100 homes and caused widespread power outages.