{"id": "1208486464157974530", "title": "Hurricane Local Statement", "adv_date": "2026-09-08T12:39:00Z", "wmo": "HLSHFO", "msg": "897\nWTHW80 PHFO 081239\nHLSHFO\nHIZ001-003-004-006-007-009>011-015>018-022-023-026>054-082045-\n\nHurricane Lowell Local Statement Intermediate Advisory Number 49A\nNational Weather Service Honolulu HI  EP122026\n239 AM HST Tue Sep 8 2026\n\nThis product covers the Hawaiian islands\n\n**HURRICANE LOWELL MADE CLOSEST ENCOUNTER TO HAWAII AROUND MIDNIGHT AND \nIS NOW BEGINNING TO MOVE AWAY**\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 110 miles northwest of Lihue or about 210 miles \n      west-northwest of Honolulu\n    - 22.9N 160.8W\n    - Storm Intensity 105 mph\n    - Movement North or 10 degrees at 18 mph\n\nSITUATION OVERVIEW\n------------------\n\nHurricane Lowell has reached its closest point to the main Hawaiian\nIslands around midnight and will begin moving away from the islands\nthis morning. However, this is not the time to let your guard down.\nDamaging winds, heavy flooding rainfall, and extremely dangerous and\ndamaging surf will occur across the Hawaiian Islands at least through\nthe morning, and possibly through the day. A Hurricane Warning remains\nin effect for Kauai and Niihau, and a Tropical Storm Warning for Oahu.\n\nPeak wind gusts across Kauai and Oahu over the past few hours were as\nhigh as 80 mph. Current wind gusts appear to be slightly off the peak,\nbut still holding steady in the 60 to 70 mph range on Kauai, and 30 to\n50 mph range on Oahu. It is important to note that winds can be\naccelerated over and downwind of terrain, leading to areas of stronger\nwind gusts. As winds turn southward, north facing slopes will be more\nsusceptable to downsloping effects.\n\nHeavy downpours could lead to flash flooding on already saturated\ngrounds. Lingering rain bands will continue into Wednesday as Lowell\nlifts away to the north and drags additonal tropical moisture in the\nsoutherly flow. Additional rainfall for this event are 2 to 4 inches\non Kauai, 1 to 2 inches on Oahu and Maui County, and 3 to 6 inches \non Big Island with higher amounts occurring on south and eastern slopes.\n\nAn extremely large south to southwest swell is currently peaking with\nheights of 20 to 30 feet across south and west facing shores of Kauai\nand 15 to 20 feet same shorelines of Oahu. Surf is forecast to rapidly\ndiminish this morning, but will likely maintain the warning through\nthe morning for south and west facing shores. Storm surge of 1 to\n4 feet on Kauai and Niihau will generate major wave run-up and coastal\ninundation along exposed low lying areas of south and west- facing\nshores.\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\n* FLOODING RAIN:\nPotential impacts from the flooding rain are unfolding across Kauai \nand Niihau. Remain well guarded against life-threatening flood waters \nhaving 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 \nlife-threatening surge and extremely large surf having significant \nimpacts. If realized, these 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 5 AM HST, or sooner if conditions \nwarrant.\n\n"}