{"id": "1208374898959253506", "title": "Hurricane Local Statement", "adv_date": "2026-09-08T03:12:00Z", "wmo": "HLSHFO", "msg": "043\nWTHW80 PHFO 080312\nHLSHFO\nHIZ001-003-004-006-007-009>011-015>018-022-023-026>054-081115-\n\nHurricane Lowell Local Statement Advisory Number 48\nNational Weather Service Honolulu HI  EP122026\n512 PM HST Mon Sep 7 2026\n\nThis product covers the Hawaiian islands\n\n**DANGEROUS CONDITIONS EXPECTED FOR NIIHAU, KAUAI, AND OAHU, WITH\nFLASH FLOODING DAMAGING WAVES AND HIGH WINDS EXPECTED FROM\nLOWELL** \n\nNEW INFORMATION\n---------------\n\n* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:\n    - None\n\n* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:\n    - A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Kauai East, Kauai \n      Mountains, Kauai North, Kauai South, Kauai Southwest, and Niihau\n    - A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Central Oahu, East \n      Honolulu, Ewa Plain, Honolulu Metro, Koolau Leeward, Koolau \n      Windward, Oahu North Shore, Olomana, Waianae Coast, and Waianae \n      Mountains\n\n* STORM INFORMATION:\n    - About 170 miles southwest of Lihue or about 230 miles \n      west-southwest of Honolulu\n    - 20.3N 161.3W\n    - Storm Intensity 110 mph\n    - Movement North-northeast or 25 degrees at 18 mph\n\nSITUATION OVERVIEW\n------------------\n\nHurricane Lowell continues to move toward the north-northeast and\napproach the state. As the center of Lowell passes west of Niihau\ntonight, expect damaging winds, heavy flooding rainfall, and extremely\ndangerous and damaging surf to occur over portions of the Hawaiian\nIslands and possibly persist into Tuesday morning. A Hurricane Warning\nremains in effect for Kauai and Niihau, and a Tropical Storm Warning\nis in effect for Oahu. Preparations should be complete on Kauai County\nand should be rushed to completion on Oahu. \n\nDamaging tropical storm force winds are now occurring on Kauai and \nNiihau and may spread to Oahu during the evening. Several stations on \nsouthern Kauai, including Lihue Airport, have already been measuring \nsustained winds of 30 to 40 mph. Hurricane conditions are expected over \nportions of Kauai County as early as this evening, with the highest \nprobability of hurricane force winds occurring on Niihau this evening. \nIt is important to note that winds can be accelerated over and downwind \nof terrain, leading to areas of stronger wind gusts. As winds shift \nfrom east to southeast this afternoon to south overnight, areas \naffected by downslope wind gusts will likely change.\n\nThe threat of heavy rain will increase considerably tonight. Heavy\ndownpours could lead to flash flooding and mudslides, especially in\nsteep terrain, and rainbands could become persistent and anchored in\nsome areas, exacerbating the flash flood threat. The risk of flash\nflooding is greatest for Kauai and Niihau, where many stations have\nmeasured 2 to 5 inches of rain today. The flood threat also exists for\nall other islands due to deep moisture surrounding Lowell. Over\n20 inches of rain is possible over portions of Kauai, mainly over the\ninterior mountains, and up 12 inches remains possible over southeast\nBig Island.\n\nAn extremely large south to southwest swell generated by Lowell will\ncontinue to rapidly build through the evening and peak tonight. A High\nSurf Warning is in effect for south-facing shores of all islands and\nfor west-facing shores of the Big Island. Dangerously large and\ndamaging surf and coastal inundation are expected along the immediate\ncoast of exposed south- and west-facing shores, particularly on Kauai\nand Niihau and possibly Oahu. The highest surf may reach 20 to 30 feet\non Kauai and Niihau tonight, then rapidly diminish on Tuesday. Extra\nlarge surf, on top of 1 to 4 feet of storm surge, will generate major \nwave run-up and coastal inundation along exposed low lying areas of \nsouth- and west-facing shores, particularly for Kauai and Niihau and \npossibly for Oahu. \n\nConditions will be conducive for fast-moving, short-lived waterspouts\nand tornadoes in the rainbands associated with Lowell, mainly near\nKauai and Niihau. This threat will continue through tonight, then\ndiminish quickly Tuesday morning.\n\n\nPOTENTIAL IMPACTS\n-----------------\n\n* WIND:\nPotential impacts from the main wind event are now unfolding across \nKauai and Niihau. Remain well sheltered from life-threatening wind \nimpacts. If realized, these impacts include:\n    - Structural damage to sturdy buildings, some with complete roof \n      and wall failures. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Damage \n      greatly accentuated by large airborne projectiles. Locations \n      may be uninhabitable for weeks or months.\n    - Numerous large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and \n      roadway signs blown over.\n    - Many roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban \n      or heavily wooded places. Many bridges, causeways, and access \n      routes impassable.\n    - Widespread power and communications outages.\n\nPotential impacts from the main wind event will develop across Oahu \nthis evening. Remain well sheltered from wind having limited to \nextensive impacts.\n\nElsewhere across the Hawaiian islands, little to no impact is \nanticipated.\n\n* FLOODING RAIN:\nPotential impacts from the flooding rain are unfolding across \nKauai and Niihau. Remain well guarded against life-threatening flood \nwaters having extensive impacts. If realized, these impacts 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\nPotential impacts from the flooding rain are unfolding across the \nrest of the State of Hawaii. Remain well guarded against dangerous \nflood waters having significant impacts.\n\n* SURGE:\nPotential impacts from the main surge and damaging surf event are now \nunfolding across Kauai and Niihau. Remain well away from life-threatening \nsurge and extremely large surf having significant impacts. If realized, \nthese impacts include:\n    - Areas of inundation with storm surge flooding accentuated by \n      waves. Damage to several buildings, mainly near the coast.\n    - Sections of near-shore escape routes and secondary roads become \n      weakened or washed out, especially in usually vulnerable low \n      spots.\n    - Major beach erosion with heavy surf overtopping nearby roadways.\n    - Moderate damage to marinas, docks, and piers. Several small \n      craft broken away from moorings, especially in unprotected \n      anchorages.\n\nElsewhere across the Hawaiian islands, very large surf may produce \ncoastal inundation and some impacts to shoreline infrastructure. \n\n* TORNADOES:\nPotential impacts from tornadoes are unfolding across Kauai and \nNiihau. Remain well braced against a dangerous tornado event having \npossible significant impacts. If realized, these impacts include:\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 \nthe rest of the State of Hawaii.\n\nPRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS\n----------------------------------\n\n* EVACUATIONS:\nFollow the advice of local officials\n\n* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:\nNow is the time to stay inside and away from windows. Listen for \nupdates and be ready in case you lose electrical power. Keep a \nbattery-powered radio, charged cell phone and flashlight handy.\n\nDuring the peak of the storm be ready to move quickly. Keep your \nshoes on and rain gear handy. Boots and athletic shoes offer the \nbest foot protection if you become unexpectedly exposed to the \nweather.\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\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\nKeep your cell phone charged and in power-saving mode. If you lose \npower, use it sparingly and mainly for personal emergencies and \ncheck-ins.\n\nIf you are prone to flooding be prepared for the possibility of a \nquick and dramatic rise in water levels.\n\nIf a tornado warning is issued for your area, quickly move to the \nsafest place within your shelter. Protect your head and body.\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 1100 PM HST, or sooner if conditions \nwarrant.\n\n"}