Hurricane Lowell strengthens to Category 5 as Hawaii braces for possible impacts
Hurricane Lowell strengthens to Category 5
Activelifezero.com – Hurricane Lowell strengthens to Category 5 with sustained winds reaching 160 mph, prompting Hawaii’s governor to declare a statewide emergency across every island. As of Friday evening local time, the storm sat more than 500 miles south of the archipelago, but forecasters project a sharp northward turn this weekend that would carry it toward Niihau and Kauai by early next week. The system marks the third tropical threat to strike the islands in roughly three weeks, a clustering meteorologists trace directly to El Niño-driven warming of Pacific sea-surface temperatures.
Emergency Measures and Island-Side Preparation
Governor Josh Green signed the statewide emergency order Thursday, unlocking state resources and authorizing Hawaii National Guard deployment. Six high-water vehicles are en route to Kauai to address anticipated flooding in low-lying neighborhoods. County crews have begun clearing drainage channels and staging equipment in areas historically vulnerable to surge and sheet flooding. Two state parks on the island have shuttered their camping facilities, and land-and-natural-resources staff were scheduled to notify any remaining campers to vacate immediately on Friday.
“Our state is still recovering from Lala, and we are not waiting for another storm to get close before preparing,” Green said in a news release.
Residents have been urged to stock at least 14 days of food, water, medications, and other essentials — a recommendation reflecting the possibility of prolonged infrastructure disruption should the hurricane track closer than current models suggest.
El Niño, the Iniki Parallel, and Forecast Uncertainty
The governor acknowledged openly at a Friday news conference that El Niño is stacking additional threatening systems into the fall calendar. “This is a serious storm season,” he said. “We’ve got multiple storms because of El Niño that are stacking up – we’re told that’s what the fall is going to be like.” The preceding two systems set the stage: Hurricane Lala struck in mid-August, dumping feet of rain on the Big Island’s eastern slopes and triggering severe flooding, while Tropical Storm Moke followed in late August with comparatively modest impacts given its weaker intensity.
Lowell’s projected trajectory — a westward drift followed by an abrupt northward hook — echoes the path of Hurricane Iniki in 1992, which made landfall on Kauai as a Category 4 and remains the most destructive storm in Hawaiian recorded history. Green did not soften the comparison. “If (Hurricane Lowell) does what Iniki did in 1992 or even does anything close … we could see tragic consequences,” he warned. The mechanism behind the anticipated turn involves an upper-level low-pressure feature positioned well north of the islands; as the storm drifts westward, that feature is expected to interact with the hurricane’s circulation and pull it northward.
The National Hurricane Center places the storm’s center approximately 150 miles west of Niihau, or roughly 190 miles west of Kauai, from late Monday afternoon through Monday night. Some additional intensification is possible over the following day before a gradual weakening trend sets in by early next week, with the system expected near Category 3 strength at closest approach. Forecasters flagged below-normal confidence in the exact track at this lead time, before the northward turn is complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the storm expected to reach closest approach to the western islands? Current guidance places the center within roughly 150–190 miles of Niihau and Kauai from late Monday afternoon through Monday night, local time.
What should residents do right now? Stock at least 14 days of food, water, medications, and essentials. Monitor official channels for evacuation orders, especially if you live in low-lying areas of Kauai or Niihau.
Why are so many storms hitting Hawaii this season? El Niño conditions have warmed central and eastern Pacific sea-surface temperatures, fueling more frequent and more intense tropical cyclones. Meteorologists expect additional systems through the fall.
How does this compare to Hurricane Iniki (1992)? Iniki made landfall on Kauai as a Category 4 and caused billions of dollars in damage. Lowell’s projected northward hook resembles that track, though current forecasts place the center well offshore at closest approach.
