Hurricane Lowell Hits Hawaii: Warnings Issued for Kauai, Ni’ihau, and Oahu
Where Hurricane Lowell Tracked and Current Strength
As of September 8, 2026, at 5 a.m. Hawaii time, Hurricane Lowell was located about 145 miles northwest of Lihue, Hawaii, and 245 miles northwest of Honolulu. The storm was moving north at 18 mph with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph, making it a Category 1 hurricane.
Lowell weakened through the morning from an earlier Category 2 status with sustained winds of 110 mph. Earlier, the storm was a major Category 3 system with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph while positioned further south-southwest of Lihue. Forecasters expect the storm to maintain its speed heading north before turning toward the northwest and west while weakening over the subsequent couple of days, according to the National Hurricane Center and USA TODAY.
Impacts and Damage Across Kauai County
Although the storm did not make direct landfall, it passed close enough to cause significant disruptions, according to Kauai County Mayor Derek Kawakami. “I hope you have spent these last few days preparing for the worst,” Kawakami said in a message reported by USA TODAY.
Several road closures and infrastructure impacts were reported across the island chain, according to the National Hurricane Center and USA TODAY. The Hanalei Bridge on the north side of Kauai closed on Labor Day morning due to flooding as waterways spiked 6 to 8 feet. In Kilauea, a person sustained injuries when a tree fell on a home, and a home in Poipu was blown off its foundation into a neighbor’s yard, based on weather service reports cited by USA TODAY. Additionally, ocean water surged into a Poipu resort pool and flooded nearby roadways, sweeping some cars out of parking stalls. Emergency managers in Kawaihau also reported a roof lifted off a residence.
Rainfall Totals and Rare Tornado Watch
The National Weather Service in Honolulu issued a statewide tornado watch that expired at 4 a.m. Hawaii time on September 8, 2026, for areas of Kauai. Meteorologist Maureen Ballard noted that while Hawaii has experienced about 40 tornadoes since 1955, this marked the first time the Honolulu office had ever issued a tornado watch, according to analysis of NOAA historical records.
Forecasters warned that Lowell would produce significant flash flooding and landslides. Additional rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches were forecast for Kauai, with maximum storm totals reaching up to 24 inches, according to the National Hurricane Center and USA TODAY. The Big Island was projected to see an additional 3 to 8 inches, with totals up to 12 inches possible, while Oahu and Maui County braced for further rainfall.