Hawaii residents told to expect tropical storm conditions as Hurricane Lowell passes to the west

LIHUE, Hawaii (AP) – Authorities in Hawaii called on residents and visitors to prepare for heavy rains, flooding and possibly mudslides as Hurricane Lowell, a major Category 3 storm, prompted the National Hurricane Center to matter a tropical storm warning for two islands on Sunday.

Key points

• Hawaii's Major Island is anticipated to see 4-8 inches (10-20 centimeters) of rain, with some areas getting as much as 12 inches (30 centimeters).
• Forecasters remarked rainfall totals of 6-10 inches (15-25 centimeters), with maximum totals of 14 inches (36 centimeters), were feasible.
• It was moving north at 6 mph (9 kph), the hurricane center remarked.

What happened

For context, the Miami-based center issued the warning and a hurricane watch for Kauai and Niihau as Lowell was forecast to pass the islands to the west late Monday while traveling north. Forecasters remarked rainfall totals of 6-10 inches (15-25 centimeters), with maximum totals of 14 inches (36 centimeters), were feasible.

Lowell had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 kph) and was located regarding 535 miles (860 kilometers) south-southwest of Lihue, or concerning 555 miles (895 kilometers) southwest of Honolulu. It was moving north at 6 mph (9 kph), the hurricane center remarked.

The bottom line

For now, hawaii residents told to expect tropical storm conditions as Hurricane Lowell passes remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.