Sunita Somvanshi
Hurricane Lowell briefly reached Category 5 strength this week before weakening. By Thursday morning, it had come down further. But it’s still a major hurricane, and it’s still in the Central Pacific.
The National Hurricane Center’s September 4 advisory placed Lowell at maximum sustained winds of 125 mph and a central pressure of 947 mb. It was moving west at about 8 mph. At the time of that advisory — 5 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time — the storm was approximately 600 miles south of Lihue and 570 miles southwest of Honolulu.
No coastal watches or warnings were in effect for Hawaii at the time of that advisory. The NHC noted that watches could become necessary for portions of the westernmost Hawaiian Islands by Saturday.
Here is the intensity timeline so far. On September 2, an NHC discussion briefly classified Lowell as a Category 5 hurricane. Later that day, NOAA’s hurricane hunters measured maximum sustained winds of 155 mph, and the storm was classified as Category 4. By September 3, it had come down to 140 mph. The September 4 advisory placed it at 125 mph.
Weakening is a relative word in hurricane forecasting. A storm at 125 mph sustained winds still has enough energy to generate dangerous surf, strong ocean swells, and hazardous marine conditions well beyond its immediate center. Hawaii’s shores can see wave impacts before the storm itself gets anywhere close to land.
The NHC will continue issuing updated advisories. Forecasts for storms at this distance change frequently — track and intensity can shift in either direction between advisories.
As of the September 4 advisory, Lowell was moving west and no coastal watches or warnings had been issued for Hawaii. That can change. Anyone in Hawaii should check the National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center directly for the most current advisory before making any weekend decisions.
