Hawaii Declares State of Emergency as Hurricane Lowell Strengthens to Category 4
Hawaii Governor Josh Green has declared a statewide state of emergency as Hurricane Lowell continues to intensify in the Central Pacific. After fluctuating in strength earlier in the week, the system has re-strengthened to a powerful Category 4 hurricane, with sustained maximum winds near 150 miles per hour.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green has declared a statewide state of emergency as Hurricane Lowell continues to intensify in the Central Pacific. After fluctuating in strength earlier in the week, the system has re-strengthened to a powerful Category 4 hurricane, with sustained maximum winds near 150 miles per hour. The emergency proclamation gives state and county officials immediate authority to mobilize emergency management personnel, allocate funds, and pre-position equipment across all islands as the storm tracks toward the archipelago.
Emergency Mobilization Underway Across Islands
The Governor's emergency declaration authorizes the deployment of the Hawaii National Guard and unlocks the state’s Major Disaster Fund. State agencies have already begun shipping high-water rescue vehicles to vulnerable areas, including Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi County, while emergency management centers transition to heightened alert levels. Grand Canyon Flash Flood Video: 20 Missing As 62 Evacuated From Phantom Ranch in US.
State officials emphasized that early preparation is critical, particularly as Hawaii continues recovery operations following the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Lala. The emergency proclamation provides administrative flexibility to streamline procurement and stage resources without delay, though no mandatory evacuations, school closures, or curfews have been ordered at this stage.
Forecast Track and Potential Impacts
According to updates from the National Weather Service and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center, Hurricane Lowell was centered approximately 615 miles south of Līhuʻe. The storm is moving westward but is expected to execute a gradual turn toward the north-northeast.
Current predictive models indicate the core of the hurricane could pass close to the westernmost Hawaiian Islands—including Kauaʻi and Niʻihau—by early next week. Even if the center remains offshore, forecasters warn that Lowell’s expanding wind field will bring severe hazards to the region. Exposed southern and western shores are expected to experience life-threatening surf, dangerous rip currents, and storm surges. Heavy rainfall totals between 5 and 10 inches—with localized pockets reaching up to 20 inches—could lead to widespread flash flooding and landslides. Hurricane Karina Surges to Category 4 in Pacific, Waves Expected to Hit Mexico, California.
Active Pacific Storm Season
Hurricane Lowell is part of an unusually active stretch in the Central and Eastern Pacific, where multiple systems—including Hurricane Karina and Tropical Storm Marie—are spinning simultaneously. While Karina and Marie currently pose no direct threat to land, the cumulative atmospheric activity has prompted officials to urge heightened vigilance. Emergency officials urge all residents and visitors to review household emergency kits, secure property against high winds, and monitor official forecasts closely. The emergency period is set to remain in effect through November 1 unless conditions require further adjustments.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 05, 2026 08:59 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
