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Hurricane Lowell Turns Toward Western Hawaii as Three Pacific Storms Roil Ocean

A strengthening El Niño is fueling unusually high Pacific hurricane activity and raising the risk of heavy rain, storm surge and dangerous surf for Hawaiian islands and parts of Mexico.

Overview

  • Lowell is a major hurricane that has weakened from a brief Category 5 peak but remains close enough to prompt a statewide emergency in Hawaiʻi and tropical-storm alerts for Kauai and Niihau.
  • Authorities warn of heavy rainfall, coastal flooding, storm surge and landslides on western islands with forecasts of multi-inch totals in Kauai and localized totals higher in steep terrain.
  • Karina has lost strength and is dissipating over open water while Marie has dropped to Category 1 but will continue to drive 2–3 meter waves and dangerous rip currents along Baja California and parts of western Mexico.
  • Mexico’s SMN and other agencies are tracking a low-pressure area south of Baja with about a 50–60% chance of becoming the next named storm, potentially Norbert, within seven days.
  • NOAA and scientists link the cluster of storms to a strengthening El Niño that is likely to persist into autumn and increase Pacific cyclone odds, though model uncertainty about steering winds leaves exact island and coastal impacts unsettled.