Hurricane Lowell nears Hawaii, prompting hurricane warnings

Two of Hawaii’s islands are under hurricane warnings as Lowell, a Category 3 storm , nears.

Lowell is expected to pass to the west of Kauai and Niihau late Monday and early Tuesday morning, according to the National Weather Service. A hurricane warning has been issued for both islands, with a tropical storm warning in effect for Oahu.

“Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion,” the NWS said.

Kauai County Mayor Derek Kawakami urged residents to be off the roads by midday on Monday.

“Over the past 24 hours we have watched this system veer closer to us, too close for comfort,” Kawakami said. “I hope you have spent these last few days preparing for the worst. If you are still making last-minute preparations, finish them this morning.”

The island of Niihau, located less than 20 miles southwest of Kauai, does not have a mayor and is technically part of Kauai County.

Hurricane Lowell’s maximum sustained winds were recorded at 115 mph Monday morning local time, according to the NWS. The storm is expected to weaken on Tuesday, after moving by Kauai and Niihau.

Storm surges of 2 to 4 feet are expected, as well as up to 16 inches of rain. The wet conditions on the island’s hills and mountains increase the risk of flash flooding and mudslides.

There is also a possibility that the islands could see tornadoes form due to the high winds.

Lowell previously reached Category 5 status but has since weakened. It’s the one of three cyclones that have swirled in the Pacific over the last week; the others are Hurricane Karina and Hurricane Marie, which brought rain and high surf to Southern California.

This high level of storm activity in the Pacific is consistent with expectations for El Niño, a natural climate pattern characterized by warmer-than-usual sea surface temperatures in parts of the Pacific Ocean. This year’s El Niño is forecast to be exceptionally intense, possibly record-breaking.

Hawaii is still recovering from previous bouts of heavy rain and flooding after Tropical Storm Lala impacted the Big Island last month. At least one person died in a storm-related car crash and more than 100,000 people lost power.

Just a week later, Tropical Storm Moke brought more rain. Now, as Lowell passes, some areas of Big Island could once again see up to 12 inches of rain, potentially compounding the prior storms’ effects.

Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines said they planned to suspend flights in Lihue, Kauai’s only airport, as early as 11 a.m. local time on Monday.

“We will reassess the forecast and airport conditions in Lihue this evening to determine plans to resume flights tomorrow,” the airlines said. “We are giving guests traveling to and from Lihue through tomorrow the flexibility to change or cancel their flights without fees.”

United Airlines also said it would be monitoring the situation and offering waivers for customers looking to change their travel plans.

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

The county’s department of water similarly recommended that residents stock up on drinking water and fill buckets and bathtubs for non-drinking use.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green announced that state and county offices in Kauai, including public schools, would be closed until Tuesday due to concerns about Lowell. He urged residents to follow guidance from local officials and remain indoors.

“Closing offices, schools and courts will help keep people off the roads during dangerous conditions and allow emergency crews to focus on protecting our communities,” Green said.

Residents began preparations as early as Wednesday, a manager of Kauai’s only Home Depot told NBC News affiliate KHNL . The station reported that the store was bought of out generators, tarps, and other emergency gear.

Resident Nouveau Naumu told KHNL that he was 10 years old when Hawaii was hit by Hurricane Iniki. He remembered the devastation the 1992 storm left and was not taking Lowell lightly, he said.

“I just remember the high winds, us kind of huddling in the bathroom and things were just hitting the house, all the debris, and then waking up the next morning you could see the devastation,” Naumu said.