{"id": "1208093860150935554", "title": "Hurricane Local Statement", "adv_date": "2026-09-07T03:22:00Z", "wmo": "HLSHFO", "msg": "107\nWTHW80 PHFO 070322\nHLSHFO\nHIZ001-003-004-006-007-009>011-015>018-022-023-026>054-071130-\n\nHurricane Lowell Local Statement Advisory Number 44\nNational Weather Service Honolulu HI  EP122026\n522 PM HST Sun Sep 6 2026\n\nThis product covers the Hawaiian islands\n\n**HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE AND TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE\nEXPECTED FOR NIIHAU AND KAUAI**\n\nNEW INFORMATION\n---------------\n\n* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:\n    - A Hurricane Watch has been issued for Niihau and Kauai\n\n* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:\n    - A Tropical Storm Warning and Hurricane Watch are in effect for\n      Kauai and Niihau\n\n* STORM INFORMATION:\n    - About 500 miles south-southwest of Lihue\n    - 15.9N 163.5W\n    - Storm Intensity 120 mph\n    - Movement North or 10 degrees at 9 mph\n\nSITUATION OVERVIEW\n------------------\n\nAt 5 PM HST, the eye of major Hurricane Lowell was located about\n500 miles south-southwest of Kauai. Lowell has maximum sustained winds\nof 120 mph, and continues to move north, slightly faster, at 9 mph. \nLowell is expected to turn north-northeast and continue to accelerate \ntonight through Tuesday while gradually weakening. The current track of\nLowell has shifted slightly farther east now putting the closet \napproach of the eye of Lowell roughly 70 to 90 miles west of Niihau \nMonday night into Tuesday.\n\nWinds will gradually strengthen locally tonight and Monday, reaching\ntropical storm strength, sustained 39 mph or higher, Monday evening\nfor Kauai and Niihau as the eastern side of Lowell's circulation\npasses just west Niihau. Even higher gusts, 74 mph or more, are possible\nover Kauai and Niihau where winds are accelerated by terrain. Current \ntrack forecast and trends have Lowell shifting farther east, closer \nNiihau, if this trend continues, Niihau and Kauai could experience \nwinds hurricane strength or greater, sustained 74 mph or higher. A \nHurricane Watch is now in effect for Niihau and Kauai. Plan to have \nyour preparations for damaging winds complete by midday Monday, with \nwinds peaking Monday night. \n\nA very large shield of deep tropical moisture surrounding Lowell is\nspreading northward over the main Hawaiian islands from south to north,\nincreasing showers and producing isolated thunderstorms. Squally downpours\ncould lead to flash flooding, along with mudslides in steep terrain. Rainbands\ncould become persistent and anchored in some areas, which would exacerbate\nthe flash flood threat. The risk of flash flooding and mudslides is greatest\nfor Kauai and Niihau, but also exists for all other islands as well due\nto the extent of the moisture associated with Lowell. Over a foot of rain\nis possible over portions of Kauai, mainly over the interior mountains.\n\nSurf is expected to rapidly building overnight and Monday along south\nand west facing shores. A High Surf Warning is now in effect for all\nsouth facing shores and west facing shores of the Big Island through\nMonday night. Dangerously large surf and coastal inundation are\nexpected along the immediate coast of exposed south and west facing\nshores, particularly Niihau, Kauai and possibly Oahu. The highest surf\nmay reach 20 to 30 feet for Kauai and Niihau by Monday night, before \ndiminishing on Tuesday. A combination of higher than predicted water \nlevels, storm surge, and surf will lead to significant beach erosion, \nwith water potentially washing onto vulnerable low-lying coastal \nroadways, especially at and around the daily high tides. The worst \nimpacts are expected for Niihau and Kauai.\n\nConditions will become favorable for fast-moving, short-lived\nwaterspouts and tornadoes in the rainbands associated with Lowell,\nespecially near Niihau and Kauai, Monday afternoon. This threat will \ncontinue into Monday night, then diminish quickly Tuesday morning.\n\n\nPOTENTIAL IMPACTS\n-----------------\n\n* WIND:\nPrepare for dangerous wind having possible significant impacts across \nNiihau and Kauai. Potential impacts in this area include:\n    - Some damage to roofing and siding materials, along with damage \n      to porches, awnings, carports, and sheds. A few buildings \n      experiencing window, door, and garage door failures. Mobile \n      homes damaged, especially if unanchored. Unsecured lightweight \n      objects become dangerous projectiles.\n    - Several large trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater \n      numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted. Several \n      fences and roadway signs blown over.\n    - Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban \n      or heavily wooded places. A few bridges, causeways, and access \n      routes impassable.\n    - Scattered power and communications outages, but more prevalent \n      in areas with above ground lines.\n\nElsewhere across the Hawaiian islands, little to no impact is \nanticipated.\n\n* FLOODING RAIN:\nPrepare for life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible \nextensive impacts across Niihau and Kauai. Potential \nimpacts include:\n    - Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and rescues.\n    - Rivers and tributaries may rapidly overflow their banks in \n      multiple places. Small streams, creeks, canals, arroyos, and \n      ditches may become dangerous rivers. In mountain areas, \n      destructive runoff may run quickly down valleys while \n      increasing susceptibility to rockslides and mudslides. Flood \n      control systems and barriers may become stressed.\n    - Flood waters can enter many structures within multiple \n      communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed \n      away. Many places where flood waters may cover escape routes. \n      Streets and parking lots become rivers of moving water with \n      underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous. \n      Many road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out.\n\nPrepare for dangerous rainfall flooding having possible significant \nimpacts across the rest of the main Hawaiian Islands from Oahu to the \nBig Island.\n\n* SURGE:\nPrepare for locally hazardous surge having possible limited impacts \nacross Niihau and Kauai. Potential impacts in this area \ninclude:\n    - Localized inundation with storm surge flooding mainly along \n      immediate shorelines and in low-lying spots, or in areas \n      farther inland near where higher surge waters move ashore.\n    - Sections of near-shore roads and parking lots become overspread \n      with surge water. Driving conditions dangerous in places where \n      surge water covers the road.\n    - Moderate beach erosion. Heavy surf also breaching dunes, mainly \n      in usually vulnerable locations. Strong rip currents.\n    - Minor to locally moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, \n      and piers. A few small craft broken away from moorings.\n\nElsewhere across the Hawaiian islands, little to no impact is \nanticipated.\n\n* TORNADOES:\nPrepare for a dangerous tornado event having possible significant \nimpacts across Niihau and Kauai. Potential impacts \ninclude:\n    - The occurrence of scattered tornadoes can hinder the execution \n      of emergency plans during tropical events.\n    - Several places may experience tornado damage with a few spots \n      of considerable damage, power loss, and communications failures.\n    - Locations could realize roofs torn off frame houses, mobile \n      homes demolished, boxcars overturned, large trees snapped or \n      uprooted, vehicles tumbled, and small boats tossed about. \n      Dangerous projectiles can add to the toll.\n\nPrepare for a tornado event having possible limited impacts across the\nrest of the main Hawaiian Islands from Oahu to the Big Island.\n\nPRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS\n----------------------------------\n* EVACUATIONS:\nFollow the advice of local officials\n\n* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:\nNow is the time to complete all preparations to protect life and \nproperty in accordance with your emergency plan. Ensure you are in a \nsafe location before the onset of strong winds or possible flooding.\n\nIf you are relocating to safe shelter, leave as early as possible. \nAllow extra time to reach your destination. Many roads and bridges \nwill be closed once strong winds arrive. Check the latest weather \nforecast before departing and drive with caution.\n\nIf heading to a community shelter, become familiar with the shelter \nrules before arrival, especially if you have special needs or have \npets. Take essential items with you from your Emergency Supplies Kit.\n\nFailure to adequately shelter may result in serious injury or loss of \nlife. Always heed the advice of local officials and comply with any \norders that are issued. Remember, during the storm 9 1 1 Emergency \nServices may not be able to immediately respond if conditions are \nunsafe. This should be a big factor in your decision making.\n\nKeep cell phones well charged. Cell phone chargers for automobiles \ncan be helpful, but be aware of your risk for deadly carbon monoxide \npoisoning if your car is left idling in a garage or other poorly \nventilated area.\n\nIt is important to remain calm, informed, and focused during an \nemergency. Be patient and helpful with those you encounter.\n\nIf you are a visitor, be sure to know the name of the city or town in \nwhich you are staying and the name of the county or parish in which \nit resides. Listen for these locations in local news updates. Pay \nattention for instructions from local authorities.\n\nStorm surge is the leading killer associated with tropical storms and \nhurricanes! Make sure you are in a safe area away from the surge \nzone. Even if you are not in a surge-prone area, you could find \nyourself cutoff by flood waters during and after the storm. Heed \nevacuation orders issued by the local authorities.\n\nRapidly rising flood waters are deadly. If you are in a flood-prone \narea, consider moving to higher ground. Never drive through a flooded \nroadway. Remember, turn around don't drown!\n\nIf a Tornado Warning is issued for your area, be ready to shelter \nquickly, preferably away from windows and in an interior room not \nprone to flooding. If driving, scan the roadside for quick shelter \noptions.\n\nIf in a place that is vulnerable to high wind, such as near large \ntrees, a manufactured home, upper floors of a high-rise building, or \non a boat, consider moving to a safer shelter before the onset of \nstrong winds or flooding.\n\nClosely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather radio or local news outlets \nfor official storm information. Be ready to adapt to possible changes \nto the forecast. Ensure you have multiple ways to receive weather \nwarnings.\n\n* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:\n- For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov\n- For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org\n- For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org\n\nNEXT UPDATE\n-----------\n\nThe next local statement will be issued by the National Weather \nService in Honolulu HI around 11 PM HST, or sooner if conditions \nwarrant.\n\n"}