Hurricane Warning Issued for Western Hawaii as Lowell Approaches

A powerful storm named Hurricane Lowell has started to bring dangerous weather to western Hawaii. Forecasters have issued an official hurricane warning for the islands of Kauai and Niihau. As the storm approaches, authorities have also set up a tropical storm warning for Oahu.

Lowell was recently a Category 3 storm, but it has now weakened to Category 2. However, experts believe that it will remain a dangerous hurricane as it passes the islands. Its strongest winds reach up to seventy miles from the center of the storm. The center of Lowell might pass very close to Niihau on Monday night. After that, the hurricane will probably slow down by the morning of Wednesday.

The dangerous weather warning also covers a huge marine national monument that has ten islands. This special ocean area is very large and covers almost 583,000 square miles. Even though the storm has weakened, people should take this weather warning very seriously.

People on the islands are preparing because the storm will bring a lot of rain. For example, some areas on Kauai could receive up to twenty-four inches of rain. Other islands like Maui and Oahu might also experience heavy rain and strong winds. As a result of this extreme rain, dangerous floods and mudslides might happen.

In addition, a rising sea could flood Kauai County with four feet of water. The storm is also creating dangerous waves that could threaten the lives of swimmers. Many families have already bought food and water to prepare for power cuts. Local emergency teams are telling residents to stay inside and avoid going near the beaches.