Hurricane Lowell Nears Hawaii Sept 8

Hawaii is bracing for significant impacts as Hurricane Lowell, a powerful Category 3 storm, approaches the western Hawaiian Islands. Forecasters anticipate the storm's core will pass to the west of the main islands late Monday, September 7, and into Tuesday, September 8, bringing the threat of destructive winds, heavy rainfall, flash flooding, mudslides, and dangerous surf. A rare Hurricane Warning is in effect for Kauai and Niihau, with Tropical Storm Warnings issued for Oahu. As of Monday morning, September 7, Lowell was packing maximum sustained winds of 115 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. While the storm is expected to weaken slightly as it nears the islands, it is forecast to remain a hurricane during its closest approach. Hurricane-force winds extend up to 60 miles from the storm's center, with tropical-storm-force winds reaching up to 175 miles. The storm's projected path has shifted eastward, with its center now forecast to make its closest pass about 75 to 150 miles west of Kauai and Niihau from Monday night, September 7, through Tuesday morning, September 8.