Hurricane Lowell is expected to veer drastically from its westerly track this weekend and make a beeline toward the western stretches of the Hawaiian Island chain. The exact path of the Category 4 hurricane is uncertain, but a direct hit on Kauai is possible.
Lowell is the strongest of four hurricanes currently spinning in the Pacific Ocean. Hurricane Karina is a Category 3 to the west, and Hurricane Marie recently reached Category 1 closer to Mexico.
While the center of Lowell is currently 450 miles south-southwest of Hilo, models predict a sharp turn north on Saturday. Its effects could be devastating if it gets too close to Kauai. Models generally agree that it will pass just west of Kauai, but Google’s DeepMind probability models show some scenarios where the storm makes direct landfall on Kauai as a Category 2 hurricane.
“Lowell could be at or near major hurricane strength when it moves near the westernmost main Hawaiian Islands late Monday and Monday night,” the National Hurricane Center said in its forecast. “While it is still too soon to determine the exact track of the hurricane, Lowell could bring storm surge, wind, and rainfall impacts to portions of Hawaii early next week.”
5 AM HST Thu Sep 3 (Advisory 29) Key Messages for Hurricane #Lowell. Latest info: https://t.co/NyUGSIFCuo
5 AM HST jueves 3 de septiembre (Aviso 29) Mensajes clave sobre el huracán #Lowell. Más información: https://t.co/NyUGSIFCuo pic.twitter.com/ycTaKVgKA7
— NHC Pacific (@NHC_Pacific) September 3, 2026
Regardless of whether it makes landfall or stays in the open ocean, the swell the storm churns up could prove damaging, while simultaneously lighting up novelty surf spots on the south and west sides of the islands. The National Hurricane Center says Hawaii residents should remain vigilant of the hurricane’s progress through Labor Day weekend and have a hurricane plan in place.
A few weeks ago, Lala became the first hurricane to make landfall on Hawaii’s Big Island since 1871, leaving chaos in its path.
