Hawaii's western islands hit by fierce winds and heavy rain from Hurricane Lowell

Rainfall totals could reach up to 24 inches in some areas on Kauai. were pelting Hawaii's western islands early Tuesday, bringing the threat of floods, mudslides and tornadoes. Tuesday, while Oahu, the state's most populated island with close to 1 million residents, was under a tropical storm warning. The center of the storm was passing west of the islands and moving away, but tropical storm-force winds extended about 200 miles, the National Hurricane Center said. On Kauai, sustained winds measured just above 50 mph at Lihue Airport. Some wind gusts reached 80 mph, according to the hurricane center. But the force of the sustained winds had decreased by early Tuesday and the storm was expected to weaken in the coming days. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green closed schools and government offices on the three islands for Tuesday ahead of the storm. Kauai has a population of over 73,000 while Niihau has fewer than 100 permanent residents. Damaging winds, heavy flooding and dangerous surf were expected across the islands through at least the morning and possibly all day, the National Weather Service warned.brushed past Hawaii and stirred up landslides, washing away about 100 homes and causing widespread power outages. What's left of Hurricane Marie was downgraded again and is no longer considered a tropical storm.along the coast of Mexico's Baja California and Southern California. Swells with life-threatening surf and rip current conditions will continue for the next few days, the hurricane center said.