Hurricane Lowell Kills At Least One And Cuts Power To Most Of Kauai
Hurricane Lowell killed at least one person in Hawaii and cut power to most of Kauai, authorities and news reports said on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 (Central).[1]
Early reports said more than 33,000 customers — about 90 percent of Kauai — lost power as heavy rain and outer bands hit the island.[2] By late Tuesday morning roughly 50,400 customers were without power across Hawaii, and the Kauai utility said nearly all of the island's roughly 73,000 residents were without electricity.[3]
On Monday, September 7, 2026 (Central), the National Hurricane Center posted a hurricane warning for Kauai County, covering Kauai and Niihau and parts of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.[4] The center first classified Lowell as a Category 3 storm with 115 mph sustained winds and warned it would stay a hurricane as it neared the islands.[4] Forecasters broadened rainfall and surge warnings, saying Kauai could see as much as 24 inches of rain and up to 3 feet of storm surge.[5] As Lowell skirted the islands it weakened to Category 2 while dumping heavy rain; gauges on Kauai reported at least 17 inches in some spots, and Hanalei recorded about 17.76 inches.[2]
Early coverage warned residents to expect tropical-storm conditions and possible flooding, but later reports documented the storm's toll and widespread outages.[6] Officials lifted some warnings by Tuesday morning local time, yet they cautioned that flooding, mudslides and extreme surf could continue as communities on Kauai and other islands began cleanup.[3]
Show source details & analysis (6 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- On Monday, September 7, 2026 (Central), the National Hurricane Center posted a hurricane warning for Kauai County covering Kauai and Niihau and extending into parts of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.
- The National Hurricane Center initially classified Lowell as a Category 3 storm with 115 mph sustained winds on Monday, September 7, 2026 (Central), and warned it would gradually weaken but remain a hurricane as it passed near the islands with hurricane‑force winds extending up to 60 miles from the center.
- As Lowell skirted western Hawaii late Monday and early Tuesday (September 7–8, 2026 Central) the storm weakened to Category 2 intensity (about 110 mph) while producing damaging winds, heavy rain and large waves.
- The National Hurricane Center updated storm‑total rainfall projections to as much as 24 inches on Kauai and warned of significant flash flooding, mudslides, up to 3 feet of storm surge, life‑threatening surf and the potential for tornadoes near Kauai and Niihau.
- Rain gauges on Kauai recorded at least 17 inches of rain — with Mount Waialeale reporting more than 17 inches and Hanalei recording 17.76 inches — prompting official warnings of flash floods, landslides and extreme surf.
- Early Tuesday, September 8, 2026 (Central), heavy rain and winds from Lowell’s outer bands left more than 33,000 customers — about 90 percent of Kauai — without power, the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative said.
- By late Tuesday morning, September 8, 2026 (Central), roughly 50,400 customers were without power across Hawaii (PowerOutage.us), and the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative said nearly all of Kauai’s roughly 73,000 residents were without power, leaving tens of thousands still cleaning up and waiting for restoration.
- Authorities recommended that residents on Kauai and Niihau shelter in place, a bridge into Hanalei was closed because of flooded roads (temporarily isolating residents), and Hawaii’s governor closed schools and government offices on three islands for Tuesday, September 8, 2026 (Central).
- On Wednesday, September 9, 2026 (Central), CBS News reported that Hurricane Lowell had killed at least one person in Hawaii.
📰 Source Timeline (6)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
September 09, 2026
11:21 PM
Destructive hurricanes cause damage in California, Hawaii
New information:
- CBS reports on September 9, 2026, that Hurricane Lowell killed at least one person in Hawaii.
- The same segment reiterates that tens of thousands of Hawaii residents are still cleaning up and waiting for power to be restored in Lowell's aftermath as of September 9, 2026.
September 08, 2026
9:27 PM
Lowell lashes Hawaii, knocking out power to thousands as flood risk continues
New information:
- As of late Tuesday morning local time on September 8, 2026, about 50,400 customers were without power across Hawaii, according to PowerOutage.us.
- The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative said nearly all of its 73,000 residents were without power early Tuesday, indicating an almost complete blackout on the island.
- Hanalei on Kauai had recorded 17.76 inches of rain by Tuesday morning, the highest reported total so far from Hurricane Lowell.
- The National Hurricane Center’s late Tuesday morning advisory placed Lowell about 230 miles northwest of Lihue with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, moving north at 15 mph.
- Hurricane warnings for Kauai and Niihau and a tropical storm warning for Oahu were lifted by Tuesday morning local time, though officials warned flooding and mudslide risks would continue through the day.
- Officials reported sustained winds just above 50 mph at Lihue Airport on Kauai, with gusts up to 80 mph in parts of the state.
- Hawaii Gov. Josh Green closed schools and government offices on three islands for Tuesday, September 8, 2026, ahead of the storm’s closest pass.
- Road crews on Oahu were clearing sand and rocks from a major coastal route north of Honolulu after floodwaters overtopped the highway.
3:29 PM
Hurricane Lowell’s Bands Bring Rain, Fierce Wind and Outages on Kauai
New information:
- Early Tuesday, September 8, 2026, heavy rain and high winds from Hurricane Lowell’s outer bands left more than 33,000 customers, about 90 percent of Kauai, without power, according to the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative.
- The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said the center of Hurricane Lowell passed about 90 miles west of Lihue while the storm remained a Category 2 hurricane as of early Tuesday.
- A rain gauge at Mount Waialeale in central Kauai recorded more than 17 inches of rain as of early Tuesday, with officials warning of likely flash floods, landslides, and extreme surf in Kauai County and possible flooding on Oahu.
- Authorities recommended that residents on Kauai and Niihau shelter in place as hurricane conditions persisted even as the storm began to pull away from the islands.
- Local officials closed a bridge into Hanalei on Kauai’s north shore Monday night because of flooded roads, temporarily cutting off residents there.
9:55 AM
Dangerous Hurricane Lowell passing just west of Hawaii
New information:
- By late Monday, September 7, 2026 local time, Hurricane Lowell was skirting western Hawaii and actively bringing damaging winds, heavy rain, and large waves.
- The storm was a Category 2 hurricane with 110 mph maximum sustained winds, just below Category 3 intensity, as it passed near the islands.
- Lowell left tens of thousands of homes and businesses without power across parts of Hawaii during its passage.
- The National Hurricane Center forecast updated storm-total rainfall of up to 24 inches on Kauai, up to 12 inches on the Big Island, and up to 10 inches on Oahu and Maui County, with a continued risk of significant flash flooding and mudslides.
- The article reiterates that hurricane warnings remain in effect for Kauai County, including Kauai and Niihau, and a tropical storm warning for Oahu, with the warning area extending across much of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.
September 07, 2026
11:18 AM
Hurricane warning issued for western Hawaii as Lowell approaches
New information:
- Late Sunday, September 6, 2026 Hawaii time, the National Hurricane Center posted a hurricane warning for Kauai County, covering Kauai and Niihau.
- The warning now extends to parts of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, which spans about 583,000 square miles and 10 Hawaiian islands.
- As of early Monday, September 7, 2026, Hurricane Lowell is a Category 3 storm with 115 mph sustained winds, forecast to move just west of the main Hawaiian Islands Monday night and slow by early Wednesday after passing them.
- The center expects gradual weakening through Tuesday but forecasts Lowell will remain a hurricane as it passes near the Hawaiian Islands, with hurricane-force winds extending up to 60 miles from the center.
- Updated rainfall projections call for 6-10 inches on Kauai (up to 14 inches), 4-8 inches on the Big Island (up to 12 inches), and 4-6 inches on Oahu (up to 8 inches), with "significant" flash flooding and mudslides possible.
- The National Hurricane Center now warns of up to 3 feet of storm surge in Kauai County, life-threatening surf and rip current conditions across many Hawaiian islands, and the potential for several tornadoes near Kauai and Niihau Monday afternoon through Monday night, with a few possible elsewhere in Hawaii.
September 06, 2026