State of emergency declared in Hawaii as Hurricane Lowell approaches
A state of emergency has been declared in Hawaii due to the approach of powerful Hurricane Lowell. The first effects of the storm are expected on the islands as early as Monday, The Guardian reports. On Sunday morning, Lowell remained a Category 3 hurricane, with winds of 125 miles per hour, or about 201 km/h.
Hurricane movement forecast
The hurricane was moving northwest at six miles per hour. It is forecast to weaken to Category 2 as it approaches Hawaii. Its center may pass between Monday evening and Tuesday morning about 130 miles, or 209 km, west of Niihau, or 170 miles, or 274 km, west of Kauai.
The projected path over the ocean is expected to keep the most dangerous winds away from the islands. However, a tropical storm warning is in effect for Kauai and Niihau: wind gusts exceeding 39 miles per hour, or about 63 km/h, are possible there over the next 48 hours. Heavy rainfall, high waves and dangerous coastal conditions are also expected.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Active season in the Pacific
Lowell has become the third system to threaten Hawaii in just over three weeks. Two weeks earlier, Tropical Storm Moke brought heavy rain and wind to the southern Hawaiian Islands. A few days before that, Hurricane Lala affected the region.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green said Lala caused at least $43 million in damage to infrastructure on the Big Island and another $4.6 million in damage to residential homes. As of Saturday, Hurricanes Karina, Lowell and Marie were raging simultaneously in the Pacific, the first such period in the region in a decade. The National Hurricane Center was also tracking another potential system near Mexico's coast. According to the center, the Pacific averages only eight hurricanes a year.
