Hurricane Lowell Brings Flooding, Widespread Outages to Hawaii

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Written by Aaron Studwell, Ph.D., Energy Meteorologist & Analyst (Sugar Land, Texas)

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Summary

Hurricane Lowell left almost 58,000 Hawaii customers without power as flooding and damaging winds affected the islands.

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Hurricane Brings Heavy Rainfall, Flooding

Hurricane Lowell is moving away from the Hawaiian Islands Tuesday morning after passing west of the islands of Niʻihau and Kauaʻi. Heavy rainfall, flooding, and widespread power outages continue across portions of the state.

At 5 AM Hawaii Standard Time (10 AM CDT), Lowell was centered about 145 miles northwest of Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi, with maximum sustained winds of 90 miles per hour (mph). The Category 1 hurricane was accelerating north at 18 mph. A hurricane warning remained in effect for Kauaʻi County, including Kauaʻi and Niʻihau, while Oʻahu remained under a tropical storm warning.

Lowell is forecast to continue moving away from the main Hawaiian Islands Tuesday before slowing and turning northwest and west Wednesday and Thursday. The storm is expected to weaken to tropical-storm strength later Tuesday.

Regional Impacts
Power outages are among the most widespread impacts. As of Tuesday morning, PowerOutage.us reported 57,813 customers were without electricity, including 33,262 in Kauaʻi County. This represents almost 90% of the customers on the island. An additional 21,692 customers were without service in Honolulu County, along with 2,706 customers in Maui County.

Kauaʻi has experienced some of the most significant flooding. Local media reported rapidly rising water inundating properties and roads in Wainiha, while flooding and high stream levels forced the closure of Kūhiō Highway near Hanalei Bridge. Flooding also was reported around Kapahi, while runoff carried a large amount of debris into Wailua Bay.

Transportation also has been disrupted. Līhuʻe Airport closed Monday afternoon, canceling remaining flights, while commercial operations at Port Allen and Nāwiliwili were halted under Port Condition Zulu.

No fatalities or significant injuries from Lowell had been confirmed in the local and national reports reviewed Tuesday morning.

Weather Factors
Despite Lowell's center remaining offshore, its large wind field brought hurricane conditions to portions of Kauaʻi County and tropical-storm conditions to Oʻahu. Earlier observations included hurricane-force gusts at Barking Sands and Līhuʻe Airport. The National Hurricane Center expects another 2 to 4 inches of rain on Kauaʻi, where maximum storm totals could reach 24 inches. Another 3 to 6 inches is possible on the Big Island, with localized storm totals around 8 inches. Significant flash flooding and mudslides remain possible, particularly across Kauaʻi and portions of the Big Island. Lowell is weakening rapidly as strong vertical wind shear displaces deep convection from the circulation center. Marginal ocean temperatures and continued shear should promote additional weakening through late week, although forecasters note greater uncertainty beyond Friday as another upper-level trough approaches the cyclone.

Key Takeaways

• Hurricane Lowell remained offshore but brought hurricane conditions to Kauaʻi County and tropical-storm conditions to Oʻahu.
• Almost 58,000 customers are without power statewide, led by more than 33,000 outages in Kauaʻi County.
• Heavy rainfall produced flash flooding, road closures and transportation disruptions, particularly across Kauaʻi.
• Additional rainfall could push storm totals to 24 inches on Kauaʻi, maintaining the threat of flash flooding and mudslides.
• Lowell is rapidly weakening under strong vertical wind shear and is forecast to become a tropical storm later Tuesday.

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