Hurricane warning issued for western Hawaii as Lowell approaches

Hurricane Lowell, a major Category 3 storm, approached western Hawaii early Monday with powerful 115-mph winds, triggering a hurricane warning for the islands of Kauai and Niihau.

The warning issued by the National Hurricane Center extends to parts of the vast Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, which covers almost 583,000 square miles of ocean and 10 of Hawaii's islands. Lowell is expected to pass over portions of the national monument as it travels past the island chain.

Maps show Lowell's forecast path

The Miami-based hurricane center forecast that Lowell's center will move just west of the main Hawaiian Islands on Monday night, then slow down by early Wednesday after passing them.

"Gradual weakening is expected through Tuesday. However, Lowell is forecast to remain a hurricane as it passes near the Hawaiian Islands," the center said.  

Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 60 miles from the storm's center.

"Hurricane Lowell is expected to produce additional rainfall totals of 6 to 10 inches for Kauai, with maximum totals of 14 inches possible," the center said. "For the Big Island, 4 to 8 inches of rain is expected with isolated totals of 12 inches possible. For Oahu, 4 to 6 inches of rain is expected with isolated totals of 8 inches possible."

That rain could bring "significant" flash flooding and mudslides, especially in Kauai County and parts of Hawaii's Big Island, the center stressed.

In addition, Lowell could hit Kauai County with a storm surge of up to 3 feet, according to the center, and bring "life-threatening surf and rip current conditions across many of the Hawaiian islands."

What's more, several tornadoes could be spawned near Kauai and Niihau Monday afternoon through Monday night, the center said, and a few twisters are possible across the rest of Hawaii, the center pointed out.