First Alert Forecast: Lowell still a category 4 as it starts its turn to the north

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – At 5am Lowell had winds of 150 mph, was 630 miles SSW of Lihue, and moving west at 7 mph. The turn north will likely happen sometime today. Lowell is forecast to slowly weaken to category 3 as it passes just west of Niihau and Kauai. The track from the National Hurricane Center will put the center of the storm about 150 miles west of Kauai late Monday.

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The weather is beautiful today, but showers from Lowell could start as early as Sunday afternoon. All islands are forecast to get some rainfall. The average accumulation should be 3″ – 6″ with some isolated areas getting as much as 10″. Kauai and Niihau could see more depending on the storm’s actual track.

Here are the key messages from the National Hurricane Center:

1. Lowell is forecast to move close to the western Hawaiian Islands late Monday and Monday night. There is a risk of storm surge and wind impacts for portions of Hawaii, particularly Kauai County, early next week and watches will likely be issued later today. Residents should ensure they have their hurricane plan in place and follow advice from local officials.

2. Heavy rainfall associated with Lowell will begin to impact the Hawaiian Islands Sunday afternoon and continue through early next week. Periods of heavy rain may produce locally significant flash flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.

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3. Swells from Lowell are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions in portions of the Hawaiian Islands during the next several days. These swells are likely to increase early next week.

View the latest weather conditions here.

Download the HNN Weather app from the Apple App Store or Google Play for the latest updates from your First Alert Weather Team: chief meteorologist Jennifer Robbins and weather anchors Guy Hagi, Dan Cooke, Ben Gutierrez, and Billy V.

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