Hurricane tracker Hawaii shows Lowell at category 5
Hurricane Lowell has restrengthened into a Category 5 hurricane with 160 mph winds and remains on a forecast track that turns northward this weekend toward western Hawaii. Officials say a hurricane tracker Hawaii audiences follow still keeps the core west of Niihau and Kauai for a closest pass Monday into Monday night. That path still carries major-hurricane risks for wind, rain, and surf over Labor Day weekend.
Key Takeaways
- Lowell is again a Category 5 system with 160 mph sustained winds, centered about 600 miles south-southwest of Honolulu.
- National Hurricane Center guidance still shows a north or north-northeast turn on Sunday, with closest approach Monday into Monday night west of Niihau and Kauai.
- Outer-band rain, possible damaging winds on Kauai and Niihau, and building south-shore surf are the main near-term hazards.
- Pacific activity—including Lowell, Karina, and Marie—fits an El Niño season of elevated eastern and central Pacific storms.
Why is Hurricane Lowell Category 5 again?
According to Hawaii News Now, citing the National Hurricane Center, Lowell’s maximum sustained winds had risen to 160 mph by 5 p.m. Friday. The storm was moving west at about 7 mph, roughly 615 miles south-southwest of Lihue.
Hurricane-force winds extended up to 60 miles from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds reached up to 160 miles. Forecasters still expected some additional strengthening for about another day before gradual weakening begins.
NASA Earth Observatory noted Lowell earlier reached Category 5 on September 2, when Karina briefly hit Category 4 nearby—a rare Pacific pairing captured by NASA’s EPIC camera on DSCOVR.
Will a hurricane tracker Hawaii path still miss the islands?
Confidence is increasing that Lowell’s center stays west of Niihau and Kauai on its closest pass Monday into Monday night. The storm is expected to slow, then turn north or north-northeast on Sunday, and still be at or near major hurricane strength at closest approach.
Timing of that turn remains uncertain, so officials urge residents to prepare for forecast changes through the Labor Day weekend. For Kauai and Niihau, potentially damaging winds—including possible hurricane-force gusts of 74 mph or higher—could arrive Monday.
Heavy rain from outer bands is expected to begin Sunday afternoon into early next week. Forecast totals include 3 to 6 inches (locally more than 10) for Kauai and Hawaii Island, 2 to 4 inches (isolated 8) for Maui, and 1 to 2 inches (max about 4) elsewhere—raising flash-flood and mudslide risk in steep terrain.
Surf is also building, with advisory- to warning-level waves for south shores and east swells from weakening Hurricane Karina. A High Surf Advisory was in effect into Saturday evening for south- and east-facing shores.
How does El Niño explain this Pacific trio?
NASA and NBC News both frame the busy Pacific lineup—Lowell, Karina, and Marie—as consistent with El Niño, which warms eastern and central Pacific waters and often fuels more intense storms there while quieting the Atlantic. As of early September, NASA reported the Northeast Pacific was well above normal for named storms and hurricanes.
Karina, about 860 miles east of Hilo with 80 mph winds Friday, was forecast to weaken into a post-tropical cyclone by Monday. Marie was strengthening farther east off Baja California. Together with Lowell, the trio underscores why satellite and model trackers matter for Hawaii planning this season.
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