Honolulu Star-Advertiser
"Flash flood warning extended as Kauai feels impact of approaching Hurricane Lowell."
Views expressed in this Hurricane Lowell update are those of the reporters and correspondents. Accessed on 08 September 2026, 0100 UTC.
Content and Source: "Honolulu Star-Advertiser."
URL--https://www.staradvertiser.com/2026/09/07/breaking-news/tropical-storm-watch-issued-for-oahu-kauai-county-under-hurricane-warning/
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Russ Roberts (https://hawaiinewsmonitor.blogspot.com).
Flash flood warning extended as Kauai feels impact of approaching Hurricane Lowell
COURTESY CPHC The five-day forecast map for Hurricane Lowell as of 2 p.m. today
UPDATE: 2:45 p.m.
A flash flood warning has been extended on Kauai as Hurricane Lowell’s heavy rain, strong winds and life-threatening surf begin pounding the island ahead of its expected close pass just off Niihau tonight.
At 2 p.m., Lowell was a Category 2 hurricane with 110 mph maximum sustained winds and higher gusts. It was centered 230 miles southwest of Lihue and 275 miles west-southwest of Honolulu, moving north-northeast at 18 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Hurricane-force winds extend up to 60 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds extend up to 175 miles
Gradual weakening is still expected today and Tuesday with the core of Lowell is expected to pass near or just west of Niihau tonight and early Tuesday, according to CPHC. Although Lowell is weakening, the storm is forecast to remain a hurricane as it passes just west of Niihau and Kauai.
The National Weather Service in Honolulu, meanwhile, has extended a flash flood warning for Kauai until 5 p.m.
“At 1:56 p.m., emergency management reported Kuhio Highway near the Hanalei River bridge is still closed, along with water over several other roadways. Stream levels are trending down, but remain elevated. Additional areas of moderate rain are expected to move over the area over the next few hours and could result in additional flooding impacts,” forecasters said.
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The warning covers Lihue, Kapaa, Princeville, Kilauea, North Fork Wailua Trails, Wailua Homesteads, Hanalei, Wailua, Moloaa, Wainiha, and Anahola.
11:20 a.m
Lowell weaken slightly to a Category 2 hurricane this morning but is still threatening a close just west of Niihau and Kauai tonight and Tuesday, bringing flash flooding, damaging waves and high winds, forecasters say.
At 11 a.m, Lowell had maximum sustained winds of 110 mph with stronger gusts and was centered 275 miles southwest of Lihue and 310 miles southwest of Honolulu. The cyclone continued to speed up and is now moving north-northeast at 17 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Hurricane-force winds extend up to 60 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds extend up to 175 miles
Lihue Airport recently reported sustained winds of 33 mph with a gust to 44 mph, according to CPHC.
A hurricane warning remains in effect for 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. The entire state remains under a flood watch.
Kauai also is under a flash flood warning until 2 p.m. “At 11:11 a.m., significant rises in water level have occurred along the South Fork of the Wailua River over the past hour due to heavy rain upstream,” the National Weather Service warning said. “While heavy rain is diminishing, additional runoff is likely and could lead to flooding issues farther downstream near the river mouth in Wailua. This warning replaces the warning previously in effect for the north central portion of Kauai including the Hanalei area.”
Locations covered by the flash flooding warning include Lihue, Kapaa, Princeville, Kilauea, North Fork Wailua Trails, Wailua Homesteads, Hanalei, Wailua, Moloaa, Wainiha, Anahola and Alakai Swamp Trails.
CPHC forecasters said the core of Lowell is expected to pass near or just west of Niihau tonight and early Tuesday. It is then expected “to turn toward the northwest and slow down by early Wednesday after passing the Hawaiian Islands,” forecasters said.
Gradual weakening is expected to continue through Tuesday but Lowell is forecast to remain a hurricane with 110 mph sustained winds late tonight as it passes near the islands.
“Lowell should slowly weaken today due to increasing (wind) shear and decreasing (sea-surface temperatures), CPHC said. “A more rapid weakening should occur after it passes Hawaii overnight as shear gets quite high, and it moves over even cooler waters.” In 24 hours when it is northwest of Kauai, Lowell is expected to have 75 mph winds, a minimal Category 1 hurricane.
Despite the weakening, CPHC warns of the following possible hazards from Lowell:
>> Wind: Hurricane conditions are expected in Kauai County beginning this afternoon or evening. Wind speeds atop and on the windward and leeward sides of hills and mountains are often up to 30% stronger than the near-surface winds. Tropical storm conditions are possible on Oahu beginning this afternoon. Hurricane conditions are expected in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument between Nihoa and French Frigate Shoals tonight, with tropical storm conditions beginning this afternoon.
>> Rain: Hurricane Lowell is expected to produce additional rainfall totals of 6 to 10 inches for Kauai, with maximum totals of 16 inches possible. For the Big Island, 4 to 8 inches of rain are expected, with isolated totals of 12 inches possible. For Oahu and Maui County, 4 to 8 inches of rain are expected, with isolated totals of 10 inches possible. This rainfall may produce significant flash flooding and mudslides, especially across Kauai County and portions of the Big Island.
>> Storm surge: The combination of storm surge and tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide: Kauai County, 2 to 4 feet, with the highest expected values along the south coast of Kauai and the island of Niihau; Oahu, up to 1 foot. The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the right of the center, where the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle and can vary greatly over short distances.
>> Tornadoes: Several tornadoes are possible near Kauai and Niihau this afternoon through tonight. A few tornadoes are also possible across the remainder of the Hawaiian Islands.
>> Surf: Swells from Lowell are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions during the next several days across many of the Hawaiian Islands.
A high surf warning is in effect for the south shores of all islands through Tuesday and for the west shores of the Big Island through Tuesday. A south-southwest swell from Hurricane Lowell is expected to rise rapidly today and peak tonight.
On Kauai and Niihau, waves of 7 to 10 feet, rapidly building to 20 to 30 feet, are expected Monday afternoon and evening. For south shores of other islands, surf of 7 to 10 feet is expected, rapidly building this afternoon and evening to 15 to 25 feet for Oahu, 12 to 20 feet for Maui County and 12 to 16 feet for the Big Island. For west shores of the Big Island, surf of 6 to 8 feet is expected, rapidly building this afternoon and evening to 12 to 16 feet.
The tropical storm warning for Oahu says that west and north areas of the islands, including Nanakuli, Waianae, Haleiwa and Waialua, could see winds of 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 50 mph, while other parts of the island, including Fort Shafter and Manoa, will get 25-35 mph winds and gusts up to 40 mph.
The National Weather Service warns that these winds could bring down large tree limbs and some trees, blow around unsecured objects, create hazardous driving conditions and cause scattered power and communications outages.
The Honolulu Emergency Operations Center has been activated to coordinate the city’s response to the hurricane Lowell and the Honolulu Police Department has also activated its Department Operations Center to coordinate HPD resources and operations, Honolulu city officials said.
City officials urged residents to complete storm preparations and they gave the following tips:
>> Secure or bring inside outdoor furniture, trash cans and other loose objects; charge phones and essential devices; check emergency supplies; and prepare for the possibility of power outages.
>> In areas vulnerable to flooding, be especially vigilant. Streams and drainage channels can rise quickly during periods of intense rainfall, and flooding may occur in low-lying and poor-drainage areas.
>> Motorists should avoid unnecessary travel during periods of heavy rain and strong winds and never attempt to drive through a flooded roadway. Turn around, don’t drown.
RELATED STORIES:
Kauai, Niihau public schools to close Tuesday; county emergency refuge areas open
‘Hurricane Hunters’ fly into Lowell
Kauai County residents told to expect hurricane conditions as Lowell nears
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