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21h ago

Hurricane Lowell Strengthens to Category 5 as Forecast Shifts Toward Hawaii

Unusually warm central Pacific waters tied to a strong El Niño raise the risk that changing atmospheric steering could bring Lowell closer to the islands this weekend.

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The tropics remain extremely active across the Pacific. On Wednesday evening, satellite imagery showed major hurricanes Lowell and Karina as well as tropical storm Marie in the central and east Pacific. Two tropical storms are also active in the west Pacific. 

Overview

  • Lowell reached Category 5 strength with roughly 160 mph sustained winds on Wednesday after a roughly 30-hour run of extreme rapid intensification.
  • The Central Pacific Hurricane Center says Lowell is likely to turn north or north-northeast by Sunday, a motion that would bring the storm much closer to the Hawaiian Islands.
  • Forecast confidence falls sharply beyond about 72 hours because interactions with other storms and an approaching trough can alter Lowell’s path.
  • Hurricane Karina remains a major storm to the east and Tropical Storm Marie is strengthening, and forecasters say these nearby systems and changing upper‑level flow could influence where Lowell goes.
  • Warmer-than-normal ocean temperatures from a strong El Niño are fueling multiple intense Pacific storms and raise the risk of sustained winds, heavy rain, coastal surge, and flooding for parts of Hawaii already weakened by recent storms.