This weekend is not only the Kauai Marathon on Sunday but also the possibility of Hurricane Lowell over the island on Monday. We haven’t prepared this thoroughly since Iniki, and that was a long time ago. The plywood is ready, ropes and tarps are out, fresh water is stored, we have propane and gas for the generator, trash cans are secured, all batteries charged, and we’re dealing with anything that could become airborne.
Then we went to Ace Hardware, pictured above. It was a veritable party, with people clogging the entire parking lot and a huge line waiting for propane. We already had ours, but the scene was something we haven’t seen here in a very long time.
All of that is happening even as the current forecast keeps Hurricane Lowell’s center west of Kauai. After both living here for decades and remembering what happened when Iniki made its unexpected turn toward the island in 1992, we’re comfortable doing too much rather than wishing later that we’d done more.
Hurricane Lowell became a Category 4 this morning.
Air Force Hurricane Hunters found Friday morning that Lowell had rapidly strengthened to 150 mph, making it a Category 4 hurricane about 610 miles south of Lihue. In the 8:30 a.m. special advisory, forecasters said further strengthening was possible while leaving the track forecast essentially unchanged.
That track calls for Lowell to slow and then turn sharply north or north-northeast this weekend, bringing it closest to the western Hawaiian Islands late Monday and Monday night. Forecasters say watches could be required for portions of the westernmost islands on Saturday as Lowell approaches.
What Kauai emergency officials just told us.
We joined a Kauai visitor-industry emergency briefing Friday morning with the National Weather Service and Kauai Emergency Management Agency. NWS presented a current best estimate of Lowell’s eye passing roughly 150 miles west of Kauai Monday afternoon or night, while stressing that the average track error five days out is itself about 150 nautical miles.
The range they showed was wide. In a worst-case scenario, a high-end Category 2 hurricane with winds above 100 mph could be over Kauai. In the best case, Lowell stays well west, leaving tropical-storm winds, possible hurricane gusts, and heavy rain.
Rain and ocean conditions could become problems without a direct hit. The Friday forecast called for 3 to 6 inches of rain on Kauai with isolated totals above 10 inches, enough for flash flooding and mudslides, while Lowell’s swells are expected to produce life-threatening surf and rip currents around parts of Hawaii.
Iniki is a big part of why this one feels different.
The projected northward turn has inevitably brought back memories of Hurricane Iniki’s unexpected turn toward Kauai before it struck the island on September 11, 1992. We’re not equating Lowell with Iniki, and nobody knows yet how close Lowell will ultimately come.
For us, the comparison is that Iniki was the last hurricane to prompt us to prepare at this level, which is why plywood is sitting ready again, more than three decades later. If most of it never gets used, we’ll both be very happy about that.
Visitors are being told to shelter in place.
Kauai visitor-industry officials told lodging properties that guests should shelter in place when their accommodations are safe and not under an evacuation order. Refuge areas are intended as a last resort, may have limited capacity, and may not provide food, water, or bedding, while lodging properties are being asked to be ready to support their own guests.
Visitors also shouldn’t head for the airport without first confirming flight status directly with their airline. Flooding and road closures can isolate places including Hanalei, and officials are urging people to stay off roads during severe conditions, never drive through flowing or rising water, and avoid brown or murky ocean water for 48 to 72 hours afterward.
If you’re on Kauai or elsewhere in Hawaii, how are you preparing for Lowell, and has the shifting forecast changed what you’re doing?
Lead Photo Credit: © Beat of Hawaii at ACE Hardware, Eleele, showing people waiting to fill propane tanks before Hurricane Lowell.
By Rob and Jeff, Beat of Hawaii.
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We are here on the island at a timeshare facility. We filled up with gas last night (lines today are very long), and are waiting for our grocery order at Safeway to be ready for pickup (due an hour ago, we assume they are really busy). We’ll follow any instructions from the timeshare.
We were here right before Iniki but not during it, and hope Lowell is nowhere near as devasting. Good luck everyone, and be careful, and listen to instructions.
We got cans of tuna and chicken at Walmart last night and two power banks for our phones at Target (Walmart was sold out). Filled up the gas tank at Costco about 9:30 pm and there were 8 cars at each pump. Big waves at Poipu today.
Praying for all the people of Kauai. Stay safe.
We are currently in Princeville and I don’t see that there is much we can do besides get a few extra groceries and make sure all electronics are charged. The resort is monitoring the hurricane and will update us as needed.