‘Too close for comfort': Hurricane warning issued as Lowell approaches western Hawaii

Heavy rain is forecast in Kauai on Monday evening as the center of Hurricane Lowell passes west of the island. Baron/Lynx The western Hawaiian Islands of Kauai and Niihau were placed under a hurricane warning late Sunday as Hurricane Lowell picked up speed overnight. 'Over the past 24 hours we have watched this system veer closer to us, too close for comfort,' said Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami in a statement. '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. Be off our roadways and indoors by midday.' National Weather Service forecasters said the hurricane could lead to heavy rain, flooding, mudslides and even tornadoes Monday afternoon through evening. Waves, currently at 7 to 10 feet, could build to 20 to 30 feet by this afternoon and pose a threat to coastal properties, piers and docks. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Kawakami advised residents living in coastal areas to make arrangements to stay with family or friends in other locations. Lowell's winds were expected to reach 115 mph, making it a Category 3 hurricane. Kauai could also see 6 to 10 inches of additional rainfall. The eye of the storm was expected to pass just west of Kauai and Niihau, Hawaii's westernmost inhabited island, Monday night and into early Tuesday. Niihau is a 72-square-mile private island home to a small settlement of around 100 people who speak Hawaiian as their primary language and live without telephone service or indoor plumbing. The National Weather Service also placed the south-facing shores of Kauai and Niihau under a high-surf warning until 6 a.m. Tuesday Hawaii Standard Time, or 9 a.m. Pacific time. Coastal evacuations and road closures are possible. Scattered power outages were reported across Kauai Monday morning, mostly in the eastern town of Wailua, according to the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, which operates the island's electric grid. The outages were impacting 144 customers as of 11:15 a.m. PT. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Residents were also advised to stay out of the ocean and away from shorelines. On Saturday, organizers of the Kauai Marathon canceled the race in light of the hurricane conditions. Kauai is home to some 73,000 residents. The island has not seen a major hurricane since September 1992, when Hurricane Iniki, a Category 4 storm, brought 145-mph winds and 20-foot waves, wrecking homes and causing some $1.8 billion in damage. Oahu was also placed under a tropical storm warning on Monday. Rainfall between 4 to 8 inches could lead to flash flooding and mudslides there, too. Advertisement Article continues below this ad