The clock changed.
Kauai and Niihau are under a tropical storm warning. That means 39–73 mph is expected, not possible, beginning Monday afternoon and running through Tuesday morning. Papahanaumokuakea, Nihoa to French Frigate Shoals, is under a hurricane warning. Hurricane Lowell was a Category 3 at about 11 a.m. HST with 120 mph sustained winds, 545 miles south-southwest of Lihue, moving north at 6 mph. Hurricane-force winds reach 50 miles. Tropical-storm-force winds reach 175.
KEMA told people to stay home and off the roads. Charge the phone. Fill the tank. Check on kupuna. Five refuge sites are still last-resort and still not open. KIUC: plan for outages Monday into Tuesday, restoration that could take days.
The rain is the other number
Flood watch: noon today for Kauai and Niihau, tonight for the rest of the state, through Tuesday afternoon. Kauai 6–10 inches, isolated 14. Big Island 4–8, isolated 12. Maui 2–4, isolated 8. Other islands 2–4. Heavy rain starts late Sunday and goes everywhere by Monday when the wind turns south. Surge: Kauai County 1–3 feet, Oahu up to 1. High surf advisory through 6 a.m. Tuesday; south shores to 14 feet tonight. A warning for south and west shores is likely Monday.
Karina is fading east-northeast of Hilo. Marie is off Baja.
What this means for you
If you are on Kauai or Niihau, the warning is the last boring hour. If you swim anywhere in the state, don’t. If you have a western-islands flight Monday, this is the cancel.
Bottom line: warning, not watch. North, not west. Monday afternoon is when the wind arrives.
GLHR NEWS explains the news. Not investment, tax, or trading advice. Do your own work before you act.
