High-End Category 2 Hurricane Lowell Threatens Rare, Direct Hit On Hawaii

Hurricane Lowell, a high-end Category 2 storm, is anticipated to make a potential rare, direct hit on Hawaii with heavy rainfall already triggering flash flooding in Oahu, while Hawaii’s southern shores are getting blasted with damaging surf.

Early Monday morning Hawaii time, the track of Lowell shifted eastward, moving closer to Ni’ihau and Kaua’i on the west side of the islands. The shift prompted a Tropical Storm Warning to be issued by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) for Oahu, which is the most populated island in Hawaii. (RELATED: NOAA Releases Updated Outlook For 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season As ‘Super’ El Niño Looms)

The NHC also issued a Hurricane Warning late Sunday for Kaua’i County and portions of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, which is a set of smaller islands to the northwest of the state’s populated islands.

Monday night saw a Flash Flood Warning issued for Kaua’i’s northern side.

HURRICANE HQ 🌀: As powerful Hurricane Lowell continues to make its way toward the Hawaiian Islands, the storm has weakened slightly to a Category 2 hurricane. But experts say it could still make a rare, direct hit on the state. Lowell is forecast to bring heavy rain, flash… pic.twitter.com/PpbqNS1m9G

Currently, Hurricane Lowell is a strong Category 2 system that features 110 mph maximum sustained winds. According to the NHC, the storm is 230 miles to Lihue’s southwest and is moving at 18 mph toward the north-northeast.

The NHC’s 5:00 p.m. advisory showed a slight weakening and downgraded the hurricane from a Category 3 to a Category 2 storm.

It’s expected that Lowell will generate additional heavy rainfall, flash flooding, gusty winds, and pounding surf throughout the entirety of the island chain, with the storm making its point of closest proximity late Monday into early Tuesday.

The center of the hurricane could skim within 100 miles of the Ni’ihau island. As a result, Hawaii is being threatened with a possible rare, direct hit, according to the FOX Forecast Center.