Kauai and Niihau enter hurricane watch as Lowell approaches
Kauai and Niihau gained a hurricane watch alongside their tropical storm warning as Lowell approached. The storm remained at Category 3 on Sunday evening, moving north-northeast. Forecasters expected its centre to pass west of the islands from Monday night into early Tuesday. A statewide flood watch accompanied calls for Kauai residents and visitors to prepare for heavy rain, flooding and possible landslides.
Science··Midday
A new watch for Kauai and Niihau
A hurricane watch was issued for Kauai and Niihau on Sunday evening, September 6, alongside the tropical storm warning already in force for both islands. The watch means hurricane conditions are possible on both islands. The new watch covers the two islands separately from the hurricane warning that remained in effect for Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. Lowell was still a Category 3 storm that evening, with sustained winds near 193 km/h and its centre about 780 km south-southwest of Lihue.[1]
Lowell moves north-northeast
Lowell was moving north-northeast at 15 km/h. Forecasters expected it to accelerate through Tuesday and weaken to Category 2 by Monday night. Its centre was forecast to pass west of the Hawaiian islands from Monday night into early Tuesday, with tropical storm conditions expected on Kauai. The storm was about 820 km southwest of Honolulu in the evening update.[1], [2]
Flood watch covers the whole state
The flood watch expanded to cover the whole state of Hawaii. Rainfall on Kauai was forecast to reach as much as 36 cm locally. The Big Island forecast called for 10–20 cm, with isolated totals near 30 cm. Kauai residents and visitors were urged to prepare for heavy rain, flooding and possible landslides as Lowell approached its expected passage west of the islands.[1], [2]
