Hawaii declares emergency as Hurricane Lowell strengthens to Category 4
Synopsis
Hawaii is bracing for a Category 4 hit as Hurricane Lowell — packing 240 km/h winds and a central pressure of 926 millibars — bears down on the western islands by Monday night. With the state still recovering from Tropical Cyclone Lala and two more storms tracked simultaneously, Governor Josh Green's emergency declaration signals this is no routine weather alert.
Key Takeaways
Hurricane Lowell has strengthened to Category 4 with sustained winds of 240 km/h and central pressure of 926 millibars .
The storm was located 985 kilometres south of Lihue, Hawaii as of Friday morning local time.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green signed a statewide emergency proclamation on Thursday .
The proclamation also covers Hurricane Karina and Tropical Storm Marie , reflecting an unusually active Pacific storm season.
Lowell is forecast to approach the western Hawaiian Islands late Monday and Monday night; high surf and heavy rain could extend hundreds of miles from its centre.
Hawaii is simultaneously recovering from Tropical Cyclone Lala , straining emergency response resources.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green declared a statewide emergency on Thursday as Hurricane Lowell rapidly intensified to Category 4 status, with sustained winds of approximately 240 kilometres per hour and a central pressure of 926 millibars. The storm was positioned roughly 985 kilometres south of Lihue, Hawaii, as of Friday morning local time, according to the US National Hurricane Center.
Current Storm Status
Lowell briefly reached Category 5 intensity on Wednesday before slightly weakening, but the US National Weather Service (NWS) forecast it to re-intensify on Friday afternoon. The storm is expected to remain near major hurricane strength as it tracks toward the western Hawaiian Islands late Monday and Monday night. Weather impacts — including high surf and heavy rainfall — may extend hundreds of miles from the storm's centre, the NWS warned.
What the Emergency Proclamation Covers
Governor Green's emergency proclamation covers the entire state of Hawaii and addresses not only Hurricane Lowell but also Hurricane Karina, Tropical Storm Marie, and any additional storms that could affect the islands. The declaration enables state and county agencies to mobilise personnel, equipment, and resources with greater speed and flexibility.
'This proclamation gives our agencies and counties the flexibility to move people, equipment and resources quickly so we can protect communities across every island. We encourage everyone to remain prepared and continue following official weather updates,' Governor Green said.
Context: Hawaii Still Recovering from Lala
The emergency declaration comes as Hawaii continues to recover from Tropical Cyclone Lala, compounding the logistical challenge for state and county authorities. This is the latest in a sequence of storm threats to converge on the Hawaiian Islands within a short span, testing emergency response capacity. Notably, the simultaneous tracking of multiple named storms — Lowell, Karina, and Marie — underscores an unusually active Pacific hurricane season.
What Residents Should Do
Authorities are urging residents across all islands to stay prepared and monitor official weather updates closely. With Lowell forecast to approach the western Hawaiian Islands by Monday night, the window for preparation is narrowing. Emergency managers have stressed that impacts could be felt well before the storm's centre makes its closest approach.
Point of View
Karina, and Marie — targeting Hawaii simultaneously is not a routine weather event; it is a stress test of a state already stretched by Tropical Cyclone Lala's aftermath. Governor Green's multi-storm proclamation is prudent, but the real question is whether Hawaii's recovery infrastructure can absorb a Category 4 landfall without the kind of cascading failures seen in past Pacific hurricane responses. The NWS forecast of re-intensification on Friday afternoon is the detail that should concern emergency managers most — a strengthening storm on approach leaves less margin for preparation. Coverage that focuses only on Lowell risks missing the compounding risk that Karina and Marie represent for an archipelago with limited inter-island resource mobility.
NationPress
5 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What category is Hurricane Lowell as of Friday?
Hurricane Lowell is a Category 4 storm as of Friday, with sustained winds of approximately 240 kilometres per hour and a central pressure of 926 millibars. It briefly reached Category 5 intensity on Wednesday before slightly weakening.
When is Hurricane Lowell expected to reach Hawaii?
The latest forecast track indicates Lowell will approach the western Hawaiian Islands late Monday and Monday night. Weather impacts such as high surf and heavy rain could be felt hundreds of miles from the storm's centre well before its closest approach.
Why did Hawaii's governor declare a state of emergency?
Governor Josh Green declared a statewide emergency on Thursday to allow state and county agencies to mobilise personnel, equipment, and resources more rapidly. The proclamation covers Hurricane Lowell, Hurricane Karina, Tropical Storm Marie, and any additional storms threatening Hawaii.
Is Hawaii still recovering from a previous storm?
Yes. Hawaii is still recovering from Tropical Cyclone Lala, which adds pressure on emergency response capacity as the state now faces multiple simultaneous storm threats.
What should Hawaii residents do to prepare?
Authorities are urging all residents to stay prepared and follow official weather updates from the US National Weather Service. With Lowell approaching by Monday night, emergency managers stress that the preparation window is narrowing rapidly.
