280  
WTHW80 PHFO 080858  
HLSHFO  
HIZ001-003-004-006-007-009>011-015>018-022-023-026>054-081700-  
 
HURRICANE LOWELL LOCAL STATEMENT INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 48A  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI EP122026  
1058 PM HST MON SEP 7 2026  
 
THIS PRODUCT COVERS THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS  
 
**HURRICANE LOWELL AT ITS CLOSEST POINT TO HAWAII**  
 
NEW INFORMATION  
---------------  
 
* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:  
- NONE  
 
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:  
- A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR KAUAI EAST, KAUAI  
MOUNTAINS, KAUAI NORTH, KAUAI SOUTH, KAUAI SOUTHWEST, AND NIIHAU  
- A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL OAHU, EAST  
HONOLULU, EWA PLAIN, HONOLULU METRO, KOOLAU LEEWARD, KOOLAU  
WINDWARD, OAHU NORTH SHORE, OLOMANA, WAIANAE COAST, AND WAIANAE  
MOUNTAINS  
 
* STORM INFORMATION:  
- ABOUT 140 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF LIHUE OR ABOUT 210 MILES WEST  
OF HONOLULU  
- 20.9N 161.1W  
- STORM INTENSITY 110 MPH  
- MOVEMENT NORTH-NORTHEAST OR 25 DEGREES AT 18 MPH  
 
SITUATION OVERVIEW  
------------------  
 
HURRICANE LOWELL HAS REACHED ITS CLOSEST POINT TO THE MAIN HAWAIIAN  
ISLANDS. EXPECT DAMAGING WINDS, HEAVY FLOODING RAINFALL, AND EXTREMELY  
DANGEROUS AND DAMAGING SURF TO OCCUR OVER PORTIONS OF THE HAWAIIAN  
ISLANDS AND INTO TUESDAY MORNING. A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT  
FOR KAUAI AND NIIHAU, AND A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR  
OAHU. STORM PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE COMPLETE.  
 
DAMAGING WINDS ARE NOW OCCURRING ON KAUAI, NIIHAU AND OAHU. WIND GUST  
REPORTS SINCE MIDDAY SHOW HIGHEST VALUES ACROSS OAHU AND KAUAI COUNTY  
FROM 50 TO 80 MPH, WITH PEAK WINDS EXPECTED TO LAST FOR A FEW MORE  
HOURS TONIGHT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WINDS CAN BE ACCELERATED  
OVER AND DOWNWIND OF TERRAIN, LEADING TO AREAS OF STRONGER WIND GUSTS.  
AS WINDS SHIFT TO SOUTH OVERNIGHT, AREAS AFFECTED BY DOWNSLOPE WIND  
GUSTS WILL LIKELY CHANGE.  
 
HEAVY DOWNPOURS COULD LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING AND MUDSLIDES, ESPECIALLY IN  
STEEP TERRAIN, AND RAINBANDS COULD BECOME PERSISTENT AND ANCHORED IN  
SOME AREAS, EXACERBATING THE FLASH FLOOD THREAT. THE RISK OF FLASH  
FLOODING IS GREATEST FOR KAUAI AND NIIHAU, WHERE MANY STATIONS HAVE  
MEASURED 2 TO 10 INCHES OF RAIN WITH HIGHER VALUES IN THE UPPER  
ELEVATIONS. THE FLOOD THREAT ALSO EXISTS FOR ALL OTHER ISLANDS DUE  
TO DEEP MOISTURE SURROUNDING LOWELL. OVER 20 INCHES OF STORM TOTAL  
RAIN IS POSSIBLE OVER PORTIONS OF KAUAI, MAINLY OVER THE INTERIOR  
MOUNTAINS, AND UP 12 INCHES REMAINS POSSIBLE OVER SOUTHEAST BIG ISLAND.  
 
AN EXTREMELY LARGE SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST SWELL GENERATED BY LOWELL WILL  
CONTINUE TO RAPIDLY BUILD THROUGH THE EVENING AND PEAK TONIGHT. A HIGH  
SURF WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH-FACING SHORES OF ALL ISLANDS AND  
FOR WEST-FACING SHORES OF THE BIG ISLAND. DANGEROUSLY LARGE AND  
DAMAGING SURF AND COASTAL INUNDATION ARE EXPECTED ALONG THE IMMEDIATE  
COAST OF EXPOSED SOUTH AND WEST-FACING SHORES, PARTICULARLY ON KAUAI  
AND NIIHAU AND POSSIBLY OAHU. THE HIGHEST SURF MAY REACH 20 TO 30 FEET  
ON KAUAI AND NIIHAU TONIGHT, THEN RAPIDLY DIMINISH ON TUESDAY. EXTRA  
LARGE SURF, ON TOP OF 1 TO 4 FEET OF STORM SURGE, WILL GENERATE MAJOR  
WAVE RUN-UP AND COASTAL INUNDATION ALONG EXPOSED LOW LYING AREAS OF  
SOUTH AND WEST-FACING SHORES, PARTICULARLY FOR KAUAI AND NIIHAU AND  
POSSIBLY FOR OAHU.  
 
CONDITIONS WILL BE CONDUCIVE FOR FAST-MOVING, SHORT-LIVED WATERSPOUTS  
AND TORNADOES IN THE RAINBANDS ASSOCIATED WITH LOWELL, MAINLY NEAR  
KAUAI AND NIIHAU. THIS THREAT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT, THEN  
DIMINISH QUICKLY TUESDAY MORNING.  
 
POTENTIAL IMPACTS  
-----------------  
 
* WIND:  
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE MAIN WIND EVENT ARE NOW UNFOLDING ACROSS  
KAUAI AND NIIHAU. REMAIN WELL SHELTERED FROM LIFE-THREATENING WIND  
IMPACTS. IF REALIZED, THESE IMPACTS INCLUDE:  
- STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO STURDY BUILDINGS, SOME WITH COMPLETE ROOF  
AND WALL FAILURES. COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF MOBILE HOMES. DAMAGE  
GREATLY ACCENTUATED BY LARGE AIRBORNE PROJECTILES. LOCATIONS  
MAY BE UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS.  
- NUMEROUS LARGE TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED ALONG WITH FENCES AND  
ROADWAY SIGNS BLOWN OVER.  
- MANY ROADS IMPASSABLE FROM LARGE DEBRIS, AND MORE WITHIN URBAN  
OR HEAVILY WOODED PLACES. MANY BRIDGES, CAUSEWAYS, AND ACCESS  
ROUTES IMPASSABLE.  
- WIDESPREAD POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS OUTAGES.  
 
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE MAIN WIND EVENT WILL DEVELOP ACROSS OAHU  
THIS EVENING. REMAIN WELL SHELTERED FROM WIND HAVING LIMITED TO  
EXTENSIVE IMPACTS.  
 
* FLOODING RAIN:  
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE FLOODING RAIN ARE UNFOLDING ACROSS KAUAI  
AND NIIHAU. REMAIN WELL GUARDED AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING FLOOD WATERS  
HAVING EXTENSIVE IMPACTS. IF REALIZED, THESE IMPACTS INCLUDE:  
- MAJOR RAINFALL FLOODING MAY PROMPT MANY EVACUATIONS AND RESCUES.  
- RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES MAY RAPIDLY OVERFLOW THEIR BANKS IN  
MULTIPLE PLACES. SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS, CANALS, ARROYOS, AND  
DITCHES MAY BECOME DANGEROUS RIVERS. IN MOUNTAIN AREAS,  
DESTRUCTIVE RUNOFF MAY RUN QUICKLY DOWN VALLEYS WHILE  
INCREASING SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ROCKSLIDES AND MUDSLIDES. FLOOD  
CONTROL SYSTEMS AND BARRIERS MAY BECOME STRESSED.  
- FLOOD WATERS CAN ENTER MANY STRUCTURES WITHIN MULTIPLE  
COMMUNITIES, SOME STRUCTURES BECOMING UNINHABITABLE OR WASHED  
AWAY. MANY PLACES WHERE FLOOD WATERS MAY COVER ESCAPE ROUTES.  
STREETS AND PARKING LOTS BECOME RIVERS OF MOVING WATER WITH  
UNDERPASSES SUBMERGED. DRIVING CONDITIONS BECOME DANGEROUS.  
MANY ROAD AND BRIDGE CLOSURES WITH SOME WEAKENED OR WASHED OUT.  
 
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE FLOODING RAIN ARE UNFOLDING ACROSS THE  
REST OF THE STATE OF HAWAII. REMAIN WELL GUARDED AGAINST DANGEROUS  
FLOOD WATERS HAVING SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS.  
 
* SURGE:  
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE MAIN SURGE AND DAMAGING SURF EVENT ARE NOW  
UNFOLDING ACROSS KAUAI AND NIIHAU. REMAIN WELL AWAY FROM  
LIFE-THREATENING SURGE AND EXTREMELY LARGE SURF HAVING SIGNIFICANT  
IMPACTS. IF REALIZED, THESE IMPACTS INCLUDE:  
- AREAS OF INUNDATION WITH STORM SURGE FLOODING ACCENTUATED BY  
WAVES. DAMAGE TO SEVERAL BUILDINGS, MAINLY NEAR THE COAST.  
- SECTIONS OF NEAR-SHORE ESCAPE ROUTES AND SECONDARY ROADS BECOME  
WEAKENED OR WASHED OUT, ESPECIALLY IN USUALLY VULNERABLE LOW  
SPOTS.  
- MAJOR BEACH EROSION WITH HEAVY SURF OVERTOPPING NEARBY ROADWAYS.  
- MODERATE DAMAGE TO MARINAS, DOCKS, AND PIERS. SEVERAL SMALL  
CRAFT BROKEN AWAY FROM MOORINGS, ESPECIALLY IN UNPROTECTED  
ANCHORAGES.  
 
ELSEWHERE ACROSS THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, VERY LARGE SURF MAY PRODUCE  
COASTAL INUNDATION AND SOME IMPACTS TO SHORELINE INFRASTRUCTURE.  
 
* TORNADOES:  
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM TORNADOES ARE UNFOLDING ACROSS KAUAI AND  
NIIHAU. REMAIN WELL BRACED AGAINST A DANGEROUS TORNADO EVENT HAVING  
POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS. IF REALIZED, THESE IMPACTS INCLUDE:  
- THE OCCURRENCE OF SCATTERED TORNADOES CAN HINDER THE EXECUTION  
OF EMERGENCY PLANS DURING TROPICAL EVENTS.  
- SEVERAL PLACES MAY EXPERIENCE TORNADO DAMAGE WITH A FEW SPOTS  
OF CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE, POWER LOSS, AND COMMUNICATIONS FAILURES.  
- LOCATIONS COULD REALIZE ROOFS TORN OFF FRAME HOUSES, MOBILE  
HOMES DEMOLISHED, BOXCARS OVERTURNED, LARGE TREES SNAPPED OR  
UPROOTED, VEHICLES TUMBLED, AND SMALL BOATS TOSSED ABOUT.  
DANGEROUS PROJECTILES CAN ADD TO THE TOLL.  
 
PREPARE FOR A TORNADO EVENT HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS  
THE REST OF THE STATE OF HAWAII.  
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS  
----------------------------------  
 
* EVACUATIONS:  
FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF LOCAL OFFICIALS  
 
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:  
NOW IS THE TIME TO STAY INSIDE AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS. LISTEN FOR  
UPDATES AND BE READY IN CASE YOU LOSE ELECTRICAL POWER. KEEP A  
BATTERY-POWERED RADIO, CHARGED CELL PHONE AND FLASHLIGHT HANDY.  
 
DURING THE PEAK OF THE STORM BE READY TO MOVE QUICKLY. KEEP YOUR  
SHOES ON AND RAIN GEAR HANDY. BOOTS AND ATHLETIC SHOES OFFER THE  
BEST FOOT PROTECTION IF YOU BECOME UNEXPECTEDLY EXPOSED TO THE  
WEATHER.  
 
FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY SHELTER MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR LOSS OF  
LIFE. ALWAYS HEED THE ADVICE OF LOCAL OFFICIALS AND COMPLY WITH ANY  
ORDERS THAT ARE ISSUED. REMEMBER, DURING THE STORM 9 1 1 EMERGENCY  
SERVICES MAY NOT BE ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESPOND IF CONDITIONS ARE  
UNSAFE. THIS SHOULD BE A BIG FACTOR IN YOUR DECISION MAKING.  
 
IF YOU ARE A VISITOR, BE SURE TO KNOW THE NAME OF THE CITY OR TOWN IN  
WHICH YOU ARE STAYING AND THE NAME OF THE COUNTY OR PARISH IN WHICH  
IT RESIDES. LISTEN FOR THESE LOCATIONS IN LOCAL NEWS UPDATES. PAY  
ATTENTION FOR INSTRUCTIONS FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES.  
 
KEEP YOUR CELL PHONE CHARGED AND IN POWER-SAVING MODE. IF YOU LOSE  
POWER, USE IT SPARINGLY AND MAINLY FOR PERSONAL EMERGENCIES AND  
CHECK-INS.  
 
IF YOU ARE PRONE TO FLOODING BE PREPARED FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF A  
QUICK AND DRAMATIC RISE IN WATER LEVELS.  
 
IF A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA, QUICKLY MOVE TO THE  
SAFEST PLACE WITHIN YOUR SHELTER. PROTECT YOUR HEAD AND BODY.  
 
* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:  
- FOR INFORMATION ON APPROPRIATE PREPARATIONS SEE READY.GOV  
- FOR INFORMATION ON CREATING AN EMERGENCY PLAN SEE GETAGAMEPLAN.ORG  
- FOR ADDITIONAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION SEE REDCROSS.ORG  
 
NEXT UPDATE  
-----------  
 
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER  
SERVICE IN HONOLULU HI AROUND 5 AM HST, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS  
WARRANT.  
 
 
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