Powerful Hurricane Lowell is holding steady as a Category 4 storm in the Central Pacific, prompting a state of emergency from Hawaiian Governor Josh Green as it turns northward. Forecasters warn of heavy rain, destructive surf, and potential tropical storm conditions for Kauaʻi County by late Monday, September 7, 2026.
As Hurricane Lowell tracks across the open Pacific, shifting atmospheric conditions have forced the major storm into a sharp northward curve toward the western Hawaiian Islands. State officials and emergency management agencies are urging residents to complete preparations as outer rainbands begin approaching the islands.
Governor Josh Green Declares State of Emergency as Category 4 Lowell Shifts North
With potential impacts arriving within days, Gov. Josh Green issued a formal state of emergency. We encourage everyone to remain prepared and continue following official weather updates, Green said in a public statement.
After forming in the Eastern Pacific on August 27, Lowell rapidly surged in strength, jumping 70 mph in just 24 hours to reach Category 5 status on Wednesday, September 2.
By Saturday, September 5, the storm had weakened slightly to a powerful Category 4 system. Island News reported maximum sustained winds at 130 to 145 mph, with a minimum central pressure recorded near 936 mb. The system was located roughly 630 miles south-southwest of Līhuʻe and 635 miles southwest of Honolulu, moving west-northwest at 5 mph.
Jet Stream Shift Drives the Dangerous Turn Toward Hawaii
“We are seeing a dip in the jet stream is really diving down near Hawaii, and that’s exactly what’s going to grab Lowell and pull it north.”
Photo: fox6now.com
Bryan Norcross, Hurricane Specialist via FOX Weather
Norcross cautioned that whenever a tropical system is moving slowly, its future track becomes more uncertain. While computer forecast models generally keep the core of the storm west of the main islands, a direct impact on Kauaʻi cannot be completely ruled out.
Tropical Storm Watches Issued for Kauaʻi County and Papahānaumokuākea
The National Weather Service issued a Tropical Storm Watch for Kauaʻi County, covering Kauaʻi and Niʻihau. Simultaneously, a Hurricane Watch was put in place for portions of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, stretching from Nīhoa to French Frigate Shoals.
The eye of the hurricane is forecast to make its closest approach on Monday night, passing 100 to 200 miles west of Niʻihau.
If the storm maintains a track farther west, it will behave similarly to a Kona Low, delivering powerful wind gusts and torrential rain along the southern shores of Kauaʻi and Oʻahu from Monday evening through Tuesday morning.
Rainfall Totals, Flash Flooding, and Destructive Surf Risks
A statewide flood watch remains in effect as outer rainbands begin lashing the islands.
Photo: Bigislandnow
Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island: Expected to receive 3 to 8 inches of rain, with maximum totals possibly exceeding 10 to 12 inches in localized areas, creating a high risk of flash flooding and mudslides.
Maui: Projected to get 2 to 4 inches of rain, with isolated maximum totals reaching up to 8 inches.
The Big Island: Forecast to accumulate 2 to 6 inches of rain with isolated totals up to 10 inches.
Coastal areas face compounding hazards from storm surge and high surf. Localized storm surge could push 1 to 3 feet of water above ground in surge-prone sections of Kauaʻi County between Monday afternoon and Tuesday afternoon, accompanied by destructive waves. High surf advisories across south and east shorelines are expected to be upgraded to warnings as swells rapidly climb to 14 feet or higher.
Emergency Preparedness and Ongoing Uncertainty
While the storm is expected to begin a gradual weakening trend early next week as it accelerates north-northeastward, local authorities emphasize that life-threatening surf, flash floods, and damaging winds remain immediate threats for the western main Hawaiian Islands.
Tropical storm watch issued for Kauai County as Hurricane Lowell turns west-northwest
