The National Hurricane Center issued a Tropical Storm Warning for Kauai County — covering Kauai and Niihau — as Hurricane Lowell tracks north and could pass just west of the main Hawaiian Islands. An NHC advisory also highlighted the risk of heavy rain, dangerous surf and coastal flooding for Hawaii’s westernmost islands. The Center characterized Lowell as a major hurricane at that time.
In an advisory, the Center gave a position and reported strong sustained winds with a slow north-northwest motion. Forecasters said Lowell could turn toward the north and then north-northeast with increasing forward speed, bringing the center just west of the main Hawaiian Islands before later changing course. The advisory noted the storm’s wind field was large, with hurricane-force winds extending outward some distance and tropical-storm-force winds reaching much farther.
The same NHC advisory announced a Hurricane Warning for parts of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument and the Tropical Storm Warning for Kauai County. Tropical-storm conditions could occur in Kauai County by Monday afternoon or evening, the Center said. Forecasters flagged the potential for several inches of rain across the islands, with higher localized totals possible on some islands. The advisory also called out the potential for storm surge flooding along parts of Kauai County and other islands, along with life‑threatening surf and rip currents over the next several days.
Hawaii News Now reported that Lowell was in the middle of a northward turn on a path that could take it just west of Kauai County. The outlet noted a statewide Flood Watch through Tuesday afternoon and warned of rapid surf increases, with a High Surf Warning for south-facing shores. The outlet said surf along south-facing shores was forecast to build dramatically on Monday, with very large, dangerous waves possible for Kauai and Niihau and impacts reaching Oahu, Maui County and Hawaii Island. The station also reiterated that a Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for Kauai County.
Bottom line: official warnings are up, and the window for preparation is short. The National Hurricane Center emphasized that conditions can worsen quickly as tropical-storm-force winds arrive, making last‑minute preparations difficult. Hawaii News Now urged residents and visitors to keep a close eye on local alerts as Lowell could make its closest approach just west of Kauai and Niihau.
Why it matters
For people on Kauai and Niihau, a Tropical Storm Warning means strong, potentially damaging winds could occur within a short time frame, with the likelihood of power outages and downed trees. Forecast rain totals of several inches raise the risk of flash flooding and mudslides. Coastal flooding and dangerous surf could threaten low‑lying areas and make beaches and harbors hazardous. Pay attention to local advisories and be ready to adjust plans as conditions deteriorate.