Hurricane Lowell Weakens After Passing Hawaii

Hurricane Lowell brought damaging winds, torrential rain, flooding and dangerous surf to Hawaii after passing about 40 to 60 miles west of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau without making landfall. Kauaʻi suffered the worst impacts, with about 90% of customers losing power, widespread road closures and wind gusts exceeding 80 mph; tens of thousands of customers on Oʻahu also lost electricity. Officials issued hurricane and tropical-storm warnings, flash-flood alerts and a rare tornado watch, while schools and government offices closed and residents were urged to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. Several inches of rain, locally exceeding a foot, threatened flash floods and mudslides, while storm surge, large waves and rip currents endangered coastal areas. By Tuesday morning, Lowell had weakened from a Category 2 storm with winds near 110 mph to about 90 mph and was moving north-northwest away from the islands, with further weakening expected.