Hawaii declared a state of emergency on Sunday as Hurricane Lowell, a Category 3 storm, moved toward the islands, with the first impacts expected as early as Monday. The National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm warning for Kauai and Niihau.
Forecasters said Lowell was carrying maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 kph) early Sunday. The storm was located about 575 miles (925 kilometers) south-southwest of Lihue and roughly 595 miles (955 kilometers) south-southwest of Honolulu, moving north-northwest at 5 mph (7 kph).
The Miami-based center said Lowell was forecast to pass west of the islands late Monday and into Tuesday while tracking north. Hurricane-force winds extended up to 50 miles (85 kilometers) from the center, with tropical storm-force winds reaching outward as far as 175 miles (280 kilometers).
Rainfall totals of 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 centimeters) were possible, with maximum totals near 14 inches (36 centimeters) in some areas. Hawaii’s Big Island was expected to receive 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters), with isolated amounts up to 12 inches (30 centimeters).
Officials warned the rainfall could produce flash flooding and mudslides. A combination of storm surge and tides was likely to flood normally dry coastal areas on Kauai, with rising waters of up to 3 feet (1 meter).
Lowell is the third system in just over three weeks to threaten Hawaii during an active central Pacific hurricane season. The state has faced repeated storm threats in recent weeks, including outages that left thousands on the Big Island without power during an earlier system.
The Kauai Emergency Management Agency urged residents and visitors to fill gas tanks, charge devices, refill prescriptions and stock enough food and water. It advised households to be ready to stay home for several days.
Emergency managers told residents and tourists to prepare for heavy rains, flooding and possible mudslides even as the storm’s center was expected to remain offshore. Lowell was forecast to weaken as it passed the islands and continued north.