Categoary 4 Hurricane Lowell to generate strong swells for Big Island beginning Wednesday, but not wind or rain
This story was updated on Sept. 2 at 3 a.m.
Lowell has intensified into a major hurricane Wednesday night with sustained maximum winds near 145 mph with stronger gusts as it passes hundreds of miles south of the Hawaiian Islands.
The swells generated by Lowell are likely to affect portions of the Hawaiian Islands beginning on Wednesday. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, according to the 11 p.m. Wednesday forecast of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.
Lowell, which Lowell is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, could further strengthen on Wednesday and is expected to remain a powerful hurricane for the rest of the work week.
Hurricane Lowell is traveling west-northwest at 12 mph. The latest forecast said the storm was 470 miles southeast of Hilo. A westward motion is anticipated during the next several days due to a mid-level ridge over the Central Pacific.
By Sunday, an upper-level trough is expected to weaken the ridge, causing Lowell to slow down and take a more northward turn, though there is considerable uncertainty on how sharp that turn might be. Similar to the last advisory, the official track forecast is nudged slightly southward.
But winds should not be a factor for the Hawaiian Islands, with hurricane-force winds extending outward only up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extending outward up to 90 miles.
No coastal watches or warnings are in effect.
There also are two storms in the Eastern Pacific: Category 4 Hurricane Karina and Tropical Storm Marie.
Hurricane Karina now is a monster storm with winds of 145 mph, but it is expected to weaken within a few days to a tropical storm. It is now 1,440 miles west of the southern tip of Baja California.
Tropical Storm Marie with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph is about 435 miles south of the southern tip of Baja California.
The Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency encourages residents and businesses to review or develop preparedness plans now, before the next storm arrives.
People should also continue to monitor local radio broadcasts for official advisories, watches or warnings issued in your area. Forecasts for specific locations can be found on the National Weather Service website.
Contact Hawai‘i County Civil Defense at 808-935-0031 or visit the Civil Defense website if you have any questions or require assistance.
Check the Hawai‘i County Hazard Impact Map for even more information.
