200+ mm of rain possible as Hurricane Lowell grazes Hawaii
Flooding rains and a small storm surge are possible as Hurricane Lowell tracks west of Hawaii through Monday
Hurricane Lowell briefly achieved Category 5 status again on Saturday as it took advantage of favourable conditions about 1,000 km southwest of Hawaii.
The storm is in the process of a northerly turn that’ll bring it close to the Hawaiian Islands in time for the Labour Day holiday.
Visitors should prepare for heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and possible coastal flooding.
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Lowell is a powerhouse of a hurricane that’s churned across the Pacific for the past ten days. The storm has now peaked at scale-topping Category 5 intensity twice, first on Wednesday morning and then again on Saturday morning.
The upper-level setup across the central Pacific will draw Lowell in the general direction of the Hawaiian Islands over the next several days.
While the core of the storm will likely miss Hawaii’s eight major islands, the storm’s outer edges will still bring foul weather to the region.
Forecasters with the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) expect Lowell’s centre to remain safely west of the populated islands as it makes its closest approach Monday and Tuesday. A tropical storm watch is likely for Kauai later Saturday, the NHC said.
Very heavy rainfall is expected. General totals of 50-100 mm are possible on Kauai, home to Lihue, as well as Oahu, which contains Honolulu and the bulk of the state’s population. The influx of tropical moisture may also produce 100-200+ mm of rain on the Big Island, which was recently hit hard by Hurricane Lala.
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Flash flooding and mudslides are possible across the islands’ rugged terrain during and after periods of heavy rainfall. Visitors are urged to heed warnings and the orders of authorities if flooding is imminent or occurring.
A storm surge up to 0.9 metres above ground level is possible on the island of Kauai, with a surge up to 0.3 metres above ground level on Oahu. While not a significant surge, this may be enough to cause flooding in low-lying areas.
Very rough surf and life-threatening rip currents are likely throughout the Hawaiian Islands over the next several days.