Hurricane Lowell knocks out power to most of Kauai, then slides north as a weakening storm

Hurricane Lowell, once a Category 5 storm with a central pressure of 927 millibars, passed about 30 miles west of Ni'ihau around 09:00 UTC on 8 September and left most of Kauai without electricity. The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative said roughly 90 percent of the island lost power. Officials told residents to stay inside while crews counted downed trees and lines. By 5:00 p.m. Hawaii time the National Hurricane Center had Lowell 310 miles north-northwest of Lihu'e, moving north at 15 mph, with winds near 70 mph. Warnings for Kauai and Oahu were down. A flash-flood threat remained through Wednesday.

The storm formed on 27 August, reached Category 5 on 2 September, then hit stronger wind shear and cooler water. It arrived at the islands as a Category 1 after a spell as a major hurricane. Hurricane-force winds still reached 70 to 75 miles from the centre, enough to clip Kauai. Lihu'e Airport recorded sustained winds of 53 to 59 mph and a gust of 75 to 79 mph. Nawiliwili saw a gust near 87 mph. Rain near Hanalei totalled 17.57 inches. Waves and surge damaged structures and roads at Kekaha and Po'ipu.

Hawaii had prepared on a larger forecast. Governor Josh Green declared a state of emergency on 3 September against Lowell and a second system, Karina. The state activated 129 National Guard members and sent six high-water vehicles to Kauai. Parks closed to campers. On 8 September the National Weather Service issued the first tornado watch in the state's recorded history, covering Kauai County and nearby waters. That watch expired with the cyclone warnings.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority told visitors on Kauai to stay at their lodgings while roads were cleared. County parks, state parks, forest reserves, Wailua Golf Course and the Ha'ena shuttle were closed. Other islands had lighter damage and a statewide flood watch through Tuesday afternoon, plus a high-surf warning on south-facing shores. Airlines were still rearranging crews after the storm and after the separate NATS failure in Britain, a reminder that two weather and technical shocks on the same calendar can strand the same passenger for different reasons.

Lowell is the fourteenth named storm, fifth hurricane, fourth major hurricane and second Category 5 of the 2026 Pacific season. Those labels matter to climatologists. For Kauai the relevant numbers are the 90 percent outage, the 17.57 inches at Hanalei, and how many days the co-op needs to put the grid back. Flash flooding on saturated ground can still close a road after the wind has gone. That is the residual risk NWS Honolulu was pointing at on Wednesday morning, when the storm itself was a weakening swirl hundreds of miles to the north.