Hurricane Lowell: Hawaii residents issued warning as Category 3 storm could cause floods and mudslides

A tropical storm warning has been activated for two islands in Hawaii as Hurricane Lowell, a major Category 3 storm, heads towards the area.

Authorities in Hawaii have advised residents and visitors to prepare for torrential downpours, flooding and potential mudslides following Sunday’s announcement by the National Hurricane Center.

The Miami-based centre issued the alert for Kauai and Niihau, with Lowell predicted to move north and sweep past the islands to the west late on Monday and Tuesday.

Forecasters warned that rainfall totals could range from 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 centimetres), reaching up to 14 inches (36 centimetres) in some spots.

Hawaii’s Big Island is forecast to record 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimetres) of rain, with isolated areas seeing up to 12 inches (30 centimetres).

Lowell features maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and is located around 575 miles (925 kilometres) south-southwest of Lihue and 595 miles (955 kilometres) south-southwest of Honolulu.

The hurricane centre noted it was moving north-northwest at 5 mph (7 km/h).

Hurricane-force winds extend up to 50 miles (85 kilometres) from the eye, with tropical storm-force winds reaching out to 175 miles (280 kilometres).

The heavy rains risk causing major flash flooding and mudslides. Additionally, a surge in ocean water coupled with tides will likely flood normally dry coastal areas on Kauai by up to 3 feet (1 metre).

The Kauai Emergency Management Agency urged residents to fill gas tanks, charge devices, refill prescriptions and have enough water and food ahead of the storm. It also said residents should be prepared to stay home for several days.

In Lihue, a town of 8,000 with Kauai’s primary airport, residents were stocking up on food and water as supermarket shelves emptied.

Real estate agent Lori Benkert bought an extra 10-pound (4.5-kilogram) container of propane so that she can cook on the barbecue if power shuts off. Benkert manages dozens of properties in Kauai and has boarded up two houses on the western side of the island. “We’ll lose some power, probably have some trees, a bunch of tree limbs coming down,” Benkert said. “Everybody is probably going just to hunker down.”

Meanwhile, Hurricane Marie threatened to create dangerous surf conditions in Southern California. The Category 1 storm was located 800 miles (1,290 kilometers) west of the Baja California peninsula’s southern tip with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kph). Forecasters said Marie was moving northwest at 9 mph (15 kph), paralleling the west coast of the U.S., over the next few days.

Although no coastal watches or warnings were in effect, swells generated by Marie will continue to affect portions of southwest Mexico, the Baja California peninsula and Southern California for the next few days, the hurricane center said. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.