Kauai on Tornado Watch as Hurricane Lowell Approaches Hawaiian Islands

Residents of Kauai were placed on tornado watch late Monday as Hurricane Lowell advanced toward the westernmost Hawaiian islands, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The agency indicated that conditions were favorable for tornadoes in and near the watch area, which includes the city of Lihue on Kauai.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that the core of Hurricane Lowell was expected to pass near or just west of Niihau late Monday or early Tuesday. The storm was moving north-northeast approximately 230 miles southwest of Honolulu at the time of the advisory.

The NHC warned of dangerous conditions for Niihau, Kauai, and Oahu, including flash flooding, damaging waves, and high winds associated with Lowell. Officials highlighted the risk of storm surge combined with high tide causing flooding in normally dry coastal areas of Kauai and Niihau.

A tropical storm warning was also issued for Oahu, home to Honolulu, where residents were advised to prepare for tropical storm conditions. Rainfall forecasts indicated that Kauai could receive between 4 to 8 inches of rain, while the Big Island was expected to see 3 to 8 inches.

Hurricane Lowell was carrying maximum sustained winds of 110 miles per hour (175 kilometers per hour) and was forecast to gradually weaken over the coming days. Earlier in the week, Lowell briefly reached Category 5 strength, marking it as a major storm.

The Hawaiian Islands were still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Lala, which had impacted the southern part of the Big Island the previous month, bringing destructive winds and flash floods. The recent storms have added to concerns about the region's vulnerability to tropical cyclones.

Lowell is one of two active storms in the Pacific Ocean amid a near-record-strength El Niño event, which is warming ocean waters and influencing weather patterns. Tropical Storm Marie, located about 745 miles southwest of San Diego, was moving westward away from land and was not expected to affect the Hawaiian Islands.

El Niño is a natural climate cycle occurring every two to seven years that typically increases hurricane activity in the tropical Pacific while reducing it in the Atlantic. Scientists note that climate change is amplifying the global impacts of El Niño, potentially intensifying storms and their effects worldwide.