HONOLULU (AP) — Damaging winds and heavy rains from Hurricane Lowell were pelting Hawaii’s western islands in the overnight hours Tuesday, bringing the threat of floods, mudslides and tornadoes.
The islands of Kauai and Niihau were under a hurricane warning early 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 nearly 200 miles (320 kilometers), the National Hurricane Center said. On Kauai, sustained winds measured just above 50 mph (80) at Lihue Airport.
Some wind gusts reached 80 mph (130 kph), 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.
Rainfall totals could reach up to 24 inches (60 centimeters) in some areas on Kauai.
Last month, Tropical Storm Lala brushed past Hawaii and stirred up landslides, washing away about 100 homes and causing widespread power outages.
