Hurricane Lowell has put the western end of the Hawaiian Islands under hurricane warning on Labor Day as it rapidly approaches with high winds, heavy rain, dangerous surf and possible tornadoes.
Lowell’s center is not forecast to make a direct landfall on the main Hawaiian Islands as it passes on Sept. 7 and 8, but the threats have increased for Niihau and Kauai because the storm's forecast track has shifted steadily eastward, the National Hurricane Center said.
The hurricane warning – meaning hurricane conditions are expected within the watch area – is in effect for Kauai County, including the islands of Niihau and Kauai.
Forecasters expect Lowell to remain a hurricane as its center passes roughly 75 to 95 miles west of Niihau on Monday night
and into Tuesday, said the National Weather Service in Honolulu. Any additional eastward shifts in the track could bring even stronger winds and greater impacts to the islands.
In addition to the potential hurricane-force wind gusts, tornadoes are possible near the two islands, and heavy rains are expected throughout the main islands, the hurricane center's specialists warned. In Kauai County and the island of Hawaii, the rain could trigger flash floods and mudslides.
Tropical storm-force winds extend out up to 175 miles from the center of the storm. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles. A few tornadoes are also possible across the remainder of the Hawaiian Islands, forecasters said.
"Make sure everyone takes this seriously, especially on Kauai, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said in a Sept. 6 video posted to social media. Residents and visitors have been urged to closely monitor the weather and the watches or warnings as Lowell approaches the islands, the hurricane center said.
In a separate video, Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami said: "We need the entire island to be vigilant."
“The ocean is going to be rough, so really, really be careful," Kawakami said, urging residents to remember that swells from the remnants of Hurricane Karina also will be arriving on northeast facing shores.
Where is Hurricane Lowell?
At 5 a.m. ET, Hurricane Lowell was 455 miles south-southwest of Lihue on Kauai, and 480 miles south-southwest of Honolulu. Lowell remains a major hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph, making it a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. The storm, moving to the north-northeast at 10 mph, is forecast to continue weakening.
Regardless of the category, Lowell is forecast to have sweeping impacts across the state as it passes to the west of Kauai and Niihau, officials and hurricane scientists warned. Hurricane conditions are expected in Kauai County beginning Monday afternoon, Sept. 7.
What's forecast for Hawaii?
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offices, including the weather service and its hurricane center, expect the following impacts:
- Life-threatening wind across Niihau and Kauai, with possible extensive impacts, including damages to roofs and possible destruction of some mobile homes and large trees snapped or uprooted.
- Dangerous winds also could have limited to significant impacts across Oahu.
- Life-threatening surf and rip currents, as swells arrive from both Lowell and the remnants of Karina.
- Several tornadoes possible near Kauai and Niihau, and a few possible elsewhere.
- Storm surge of 1 to 3 feet on Kauai and up to 1 foot on Oahu, accompanied by large and destructive waves.
- Significant flash flooding and mudslides across Kauai County and portions of the Big Island (Hawaii County).
The following rainfall amounts are forecast:
- Kauai County, 6 to 10 inches, with isolated totals up to 14 inches
- Big Island – 4 to 8 inches of rain, with isolated totals up to 12 inches
- Maui – 2 to 4 inches of rain, with up to 8 inches possible
- Elsewhere in the islands – 2 to 4 inches
'Forbidden island' in Lowell's path
While the island of Kauai (population 73,000) is expected to feel Lowell's high winds, so could the tiny, lightly populated island of Niihau, about 17 miles southwest of Kauai.
Also known as the "forbidden island," the private island's population is very small, at roughly 70 people, as of the most recent census.
Niihau is the seventh largest island in the Hawaiian Island chain, but the smallest populated island, according to the Niihau Cultural Heritage Foundation.
With no paved roads, no power grid and limited contact with the outside world, Niihau "offers a glimpse of an older Hawaii," according to Hawaii.com. The Hawaiian language is still spoken daily, and subsistence living remains the way of life. Families on the island are known for making traditional shell leis.
The "forbidden" nickname dates back to the 19th century when outsiders were restricted from visiting to protect residents from disease and Western influence, Hawaii.com said. Even now, access is extremely limited. There are no hotels, restaurants, or shops anywhere on Niihau.
Contributing: Graphic journalist Karina Zaiets.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Downpours, rip currents and tornadoes: What Hurricane Lowell may bring
