Hawaii braces for Hurricane Lowell impacts

Hawaii is under a state of emergency as Hurricane Lowell, a powerful Category 3 storm, makes a dramatic northward turn toward the islands, with impacts expected to begin Monday. The storm, the third to threaten the state in just over three weeks, is forecast to pass west of the main islands, bringing dangerous surf, heavy rain, and the threat of flash flooding and mudslides. As of early Sunday morning, the National Hurricane Center reported Lowell was located about 595 miles south-southwest of Lihue, Kauai, with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph. The storm was moving north-northwest at 6 mph. While the center is expected to pass within about 130 miles west of Niihau or 170 miles west of Kauai from later Monday night through Tuesday morning, forecasters warn that significant impacts will extend well beyond the eye. Tropical storm watches are in effect for Kauai and Niihau, meaning tropical storm conditions with winds over 39 mph are possible within the next 48 hours. The storm's path is being driven by a weakening high-pressure system and a trough of cold air from the north Pacific, which is allowing Lowell to curve sharply northward.