Hawaii is under a state of emergency as it prepares for Hurricane Lowell to reach the islands.
As of Sunday morning, the National Hurricane Center said Lowell was at Category 3, with maximum sustained winds near 125 mph. The hurricane is expected to ” increase in forward speed” in the next couple of days.
The center of Lowell is forecast to be across parts of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, just west of the main Hawaiian Islands on Monday night, the National Hurricane Center said. After that, it is expected to turn toward the north-northwest and slow down by Tuesday night after it passes Hawaii.
“The major hurricane poses a danger to parts of Hawaii, including Kauai,” according to The Weather Channel.
Dangerous surf and rip currents could affect Hawaii, particularly on south-facing coasts, The Weather Channel said.
Lowell could produce rainfall totalls of 6 to 10 inches in Kauai, although a total of 14 inches is also possible, The Weather Prediction Center said. The Big Island may see 4 to 8 inches, with the possibility of isolated maximum totals of 8 inches. Rainfall of 2 to 4 inches are expected in the other islands.
“This rainfall may produce significant flash flooding and mudslides, especially across Kauai County and portions of the Big Island,” The Weather Prediction Center warned.
Earlier in the week, Lowell went from a tropical storm to the second Category 5 hurricane of the 2026 Pacific season. It’s also the third storm of the hurricane season to affect Hawaii, after Lala in August and then Moke.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green on Thursday signed an emergency proclamation for Lowell, as two other systems, Hurricane Marie and Tropical Storm Karina.
Six high-water vehicles were sent to Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi National Guard members were activated as well.
“Our state is still recovering from Lala, and we are not waiting for another storm to get close before preparing,” Green said in a statement. “This proclamation gives our agencies and counties the flexibility to move people, equipment and resources quickly so we can protect communities across every island. We encourage everyone to remain prepared and continue following official weather updates.”
Marie led to heavy rain in Southern California on Sunday. The National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Marie will turn toward the west-northwest on Sunday night, before going northwestward at a faster forward speed by Tuesday.
Maximum sustained winds for Marie were near 80 mph on Sunday, with a steady weakening predicted in the coming days.
“Swells generated by Marie will continue to affect portions of the coast of southwest Mexico, the Baja California Peninsula, and Southern California for the next few days,” the National Hurricane Center said. “These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.”
ABC 7 reported ocean water was “inundating” parking lots near the Seal Beach Pier, and inching closer to beachfront properties. A video obtained by the local news station showed a dozen people pushing a vehicle overwhelmed by the flooding in a parking lot Saturday.
“This is crazy. I’ve lived here for 20 plus years, and usually we get like 1- to 2-foot waves. But when we get the storm to come in here, it’s like, crazy. We’re just not used to that,” Seal Beach resident Clifford Scarborough told ABC 7.
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