Hurricane Lowell delivered a severe blow to Hawaii’s western islands on September 8, 2026, triggering widespread flash flooding, dangerous surf, prolonged power outages, and the state’s first-ever tornado watch. Although the storm’s center passed just offshore, fierce winds and torrential downpours left thousands without power.
Hurricane Lowell Brings Historic Tornado Watch and Widespread Flooding to Kauai
Hurricane Lowell delivered a major blow to Hawaii, bringing torrential rain, damaging winds, dangerous surf, widespread flooding, prolonged power outages, and the first tornado watch ever issued for the state. The storm’s center stayed just offshore, passing west of Kauai and Niihau, but its large circulation spread significant impacts far beyond the eye. Lowell had previously undergone rapid intensification over the open Pacific, reaching Category 5 strength with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph. It gradually weakened on approach to Hawaii and was a Category 2 hurricane during its closest pass, tracking north-northeast just west of Kauai. Tropical-storm-force winds extended nearly 200 miles from the center, allowing hazardous conditions to spread across a large part of the state. The National Weather Service Doppler radar in Kauai was knocked out of service during Lowell and remained offline Tuesday morning HST.
From Instagram — related to hurricane lowell batters hawaii, Hurricane Lowell western Hawaii
Fierce winds downed trees and caused widespread power outages on the island of Kauai, home to 73,000 residents. The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative reported that nearly all of its roughly 35,000 members were without power early Tuesday. Utility tracker PowerOutage.us noted that about 42,000 customers were without power across all of Hawaii as of 1:30 p.m. local time Tuesday. Boulders and storm debris blocked many roads in Kauai, isolating people in their neighborhoods. CBS News cameras captured the aftermath of the destruction caused when a waterfront home in Kauai was lifted off its foundation and moved across the street.
Heavy rain was one of Lowell’s biggest threats. The small Kauai community of Hanalei had already recorded the highest rainfall totals so far, with 17.76 inches of rain. According to the NWS office in Honolulu, rainfall totals of 2 to 6 inches were widespread on Monday night across Kauai and Niihau, with localized amounts substantially higher in mountainous areas. Across the other major islands, overnight totals were less than 2 inches, while CoCoRaHS volunteer observers reported two-day totals between 4 and 6 inches on the rain-prone east coast of the Island of Hawaii near and south of Hilo.
Residents Ride Out the Storm as Emergency Officials Urge Caution
Tourists and local residents faced harrowing conditions as the storm battered the western islands. Tourist Dave Reed rode out the storm with family and friends who were visiting for a wedding.
Photo: nbcnews.com
“It was actually pretty scary,” Reed told CBS News. “I always said I want to ride out a hurricane. I never want to do it again.”
Dave Reed, Tourist
Reed added that he wished they would have left, noting they had an opportunity to do so but didn’t.
Other residents faced immediate logistical hardships. Andrew Davis Henry of Kauai, who is diabetic, searched desperately for ice to keep his insulin cold.
“I need that to live, so if I don’t have that, it’s going to be a bad day for me.”
Hurricane Lowell nears western Hawaii
Andrew Davis Henry of Kauai
Emergency officials asked residents to conserve water and stay off the roads as damage assessments were just beginning. Elton Ushio, administrator of the local emergency management agency, emphasized caution as daylight revealed the extent of the destruction.
“As the light comes up and the extent of the damage from Hurricane Lowell comes into focus, we want to ensure that no additional emergency situations arise unnecessarily.”
Elton Ushio, administrator of the local emergency management agency
On Kauai, Lori Benkert, who lives in Lihue, described a loud, windy night after her power went out Monday evening. The storm downed trees next to her house, and the community’s main road was closed because of fallen trees.
“We’re fine. My house did great with no boarded-up windows. But there are a lot of downed power lines.”
Statewide Wind Speeds, Road Closures, and Infrastructure Impacts
The center of the storm passed west of the islands in the overnight hours Tuesday and moved farther away throughout the day, though tropical storm-force winds continued to extend well beyond the center. On Kauai, sustained winds measured just above 50 mph at Lihue Airport, which was closed after the storm. Some wind gusts reached 80 mph, according to the hurricane center, while Eric Blake of the National Hurricane Center noted that flooding and mudslides would continue to be a risk through the day.
Photo: yaleclimateconnections.org
Hurricane warnings for Kauai and the tiny island of Niihau—which has less than 100 permanent residents—were no longer in place by Tuesday morning local time. A tropical storm warning was also lifted for Oahu, the state’s most populated island with close to 1 million residents. Road crews worked to clear sand, rocks, and debris from major routes, including Kamehameha Highway on Oahu’s western edge. Meanwhile, along the Southern California coast, dangerous surf conditions kicked up by the remnants of Hurricane Marie were expected to persist for several days.
