Damaging winds and heavy rains from Hurricane Lowell were affecting Hawaii’s western islands on Tuesday, bringing the threat of floods, mudslides, and tornadoes. The islands of Kauai and Ni’ihau are under a hurricane warning, while Oahu, the state’s most populated island, was under a tropical storm warning.
The storm's centre was passing west of the islands and moving away, but tropical storm-force winds extended nearly 200 miles, according to the National Hurricane Center. On Kauai, sustained winds measured just above 50mph at Lihue airport, with some gusts reaching 80mph.
The force of the sustained winds had decreased by early Tuesday, and the storm is expected to weaken in the coming days. The Hawaii governor, Josh Green, closed schools and government offices on the three islands for Tuesday ahead of the storm. Damaging winds, heavy flooding, and dangerous surf were expected across the islands through at least the morning and possibly all day, the National Weather Service warned. Rainfall totals could reach up to 24 inches in some areas on Kauai.