HONOLULU, United States: Hurricane Lowell’s impacts in Hawaii are expected to include high surf, heavy rain and gusty winds as the Category 4 storm passes west of the islands early this week.
As of Saturday afternoon, Lowell had maximum sustained winds of 145 mph and was more than 600 miles south-southwest of Honolulu. The storm was moving west-northwest at 7 mph.
Forecasters expect Lowell to turn north and pass west of the main Hawaiian Islands from late Monday into Tuesday morning. It could remain a major hurricane before weakening more substantially by early Tuesday.
A High Surf Advisory covers south- and southeast-facing shores, where waves could reach 12 feet. Outer rain bands may affect the western islands, while Kauai County could face strong gusty winds Monday and Monday night.
Heavy rain is expected from late Sunday into early this week. Kauai and the Big Island could receive four to six inches, with isolated totals of up to 10 inches at higher elevations.
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Maui and Oahu are forecast to receive one to four inches of rain. Forecasters said locally heavy downpours could cause flash flooding and mudslides, particularly in steep terrain.
Tropical Storm Karina, meanwhile, weakened to sustained winds of 65 mph and is expected to remain far from land. Its swells will still produce rough surf along Hawaii’s east-facing shores.
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Farther east, Hurricane Marie is generating rough surf and dangerous rip currents along the Southern California coast. Authorities warned of a high risk of potentially life-threatening rip currents through Monday.
