A hurricane warning has been issued for western Hawaii as Hurricane Lowell approaches with 115-mph winds. The storm is expected to pass near the main Hawaiian Islands on Monday night, then slow down by early Wednesday. Key areas in its path are Kauai and Niihau, where up to 14 inches of rain could fall, potentially causing significant flash flooding and mudslides. The National Hurricane Center forecasts Lowell will remain a hurricane as it passes the islands, with potential storm surge, life-threatening surf, and tornadoes in certain areas.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Hurricane Lowell is threatening the Hawaiian Islands, with sustained winds of 120 mph, prompting a tropical storm warning and state of emergency declarations. The Category 3 hurricane is expected to pass just west of the main islands on Monday night, bringing life-threatening surf, heavy rainfall, and possible mudslides. Forecasters warn that areas like Kauai and Niʻihau could receive up to 14 inches of rain, with isolated totals reaching as high as 12 inches. The National Hurricane Center has issued a warning for parts of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, which covers almost 583,000 square miles of ocean and 10 islands in Hawaii. Lowell is one of three simultaneous hurricanes in the Pacific, with Tropical Storm Karina and Hurricane Marie also churning in the region.
Written for “Hurricane Lowell Approaches Hawaii” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 4 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 6796 · logged 2026-09-07
Hurricane Lowell, a major Category 3 storm, approached western Hawaii early Monday with powerful 115-mph winds, triggering a hurricane warning for the islands of Kauai and Niihau.
asserted
Lowell → approach → Kauai
The warning issued by the National Hurricane Center extends to parts of the vast Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, which covers almost 583,000 square miles of ocean and 10 of Hawaii's islands.
asserted
which → issue → islands
Lowell is expected to pass over portions of the national monument as it travels past the island chain.
asserted
it → expect → chain
Maps show Lowell's forecast path
asserted
Maps → show → path
The Miami-based hurricane center forecast that Lowell's center will move just west of the main Hawaiian Islands on Monday night, then slow down by early Wednesday after passing them.
asserted
center → base → them
"Gradual weakening is expected through Tuesday.
asserted
weakening → expect → Tuesday
However, Lowell is forecast to remain a hurricane as it passes near the Hawaiian Islands," the center said.
asserted
center → forecast → Islands
Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 60 miles from the storm's center.
asserted
winds → extend → center
"Hurricane Lowell is expected to produce additional rainfall totals of 6 to 10 inches for Kauai, with maximum totals of 14 inches possible," the center said.
asserted
center → expect → inches
"For the Big Island, 4 to 8 inches of rain is expected with isolated totals of 12 inches possible.
asserted
totals → expect → inches
For Oahu, 4 to 6 inches of rain is expected with isolated totals of 8 inches possible.
asserted
totals → expect → inches
"
That rain could bring "significant" flash flooding and mudslides, especially in Kauai County and parts of Hawaii's Big Island, the center stressed.
uncertain
center → bring → Island
In addition, Lowell could hit Kauai County with a storm surge of up to 3 feet, according to the center, and bring "life-threatening surf and rip current conditions across many of the Hawaiian islands."
What's more, several tornadoes could be spawned near Kauai and Niihau Monday afternoon through Monday night, the center said, and a few twisters are possible across the rest of Hawaii, the center pointed out.
uncertain
center → hit → Hawaii
