TRACKING LOWELL | Hurricane Lowell weakens to Category 3, shifts west of Kauai
By Pete Caggiano
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HONOLULU (KITV) — Lowell has weakened to a Category 3 hurricane, the track has shifted westward slightly due to a now expected delayed turn to the north. Kauai County is no longer in the forecast cone.
Hurricane Lowell is now about 595 miles south of Lihue, with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph, making it a Category 3 hurricane. It is expected to stay at/near major hurricane strength as it approaches the Islands.
Lowell is moving west at about 9 mph, but a shift is expected this weekend as a disturbance north of the islands weakens the ridge that has been guiding the hurricane. Lowell is then expected to make a sharp turn toward the north or north-northeast in response to this upper disturbance. The track has been shifted westward slightly and Kauai County is no longer in the forecast cone.
The latest forecast track brings the center just west of Kauai County Monday afternoon/evening and into early Tuesday. The exact track is unknown but residents of Kauai County and Oahu should pay close attention to new storm tracks.
Lowell has been dealing with some wind shear and going through eye wall replacements but current forecast has it regaining strength in 24 to 48 hours.
What we know
Lowell will likely approach and pass near or just west of the Western Hawaiian islands from Monday to Tuesday. It’s unknown how close; this will determine whether direct impacts occur.
If direct impacts occur, those could be major hurricane force winds, flooding rains and storm surge.
The threat decreases dramatically from west to east with Kauai seeing the greatest threat, Oahu seeing an elevated threat and currently a low threat for Maui County/Big Island.
A Wind Advisory remains in effect for parts of Oahu, Maui County and the Big Island with 25 to 35 mph east winds and gusts up to 55 mph possible as Lowell passes to our south through Friday.
A High Surf Advisory is active for south and southwest shores with waves up to 12 feet possible. Surf will increase and start to impact southwest shores as well later this weekend/next week.
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