Hurricane Lowell Causes Widespread Damage in Hawaii
Severe winds and heavy rain brought by Hurricane Lowell in the western islands left thousands without power, while the remnants of Hurricane Marie caused dangerous surf in California.
As Hurricane Lowell impacted the western islands, Kauai experienced power outages, road damage, and emergency alerts. Although the storm did not strike the islands directly, it caused widespread destruction.
Impacts on Kauai Island
Fierce winds uprooted trees and caused widespread power outages on Kauai. It was reported that nearly all members of the electric cooperative were left without power early Tuesday.
Authorities urged the public to conserve water and stay off the roads. As crews began assessing the damage, approximately 300 people remained in shelters.
Coastal Roads and Property Damage
It was reported that waves tore up a road on the southern coast and filled a parking lot with sand and lava rocks. Homes and infrastructure were reported damaged in many areas.
Mayor Derek Kawakami stated that major damage occurred across Kauai and that crews used heavy machinery to clear trees and debris from the roads.
Storm Track and Warnings
Hurricane Lowell did not make a direct hit on Hawaii; the storm's center began passing west of the islands and moving away on Tuesday night. However, tropical storm-force winds continued to affect a much wider area than the center.
The National Hurricane Center reported that wind speeds at Lihue Airport were measured at over 50 miles per hour, with wind gusts reaching 80 miles per hour in some areas.
Precautions and Closures
Ahead of the storm, Hawaii Governor Josh Green closed schools and government offices on three islands for Tuesday. Kauai Airport was closed to flights.
On Oahu, crews also worked to clear the main highway on the west coast of flooding and rocks. Rainfall amounts were noted to potentially reach very high levels in some regions.
Wave Hazard in California
Meanwhile, the remnants of weakening Hurricane Marie continued to create dangerous surf conditions along Mexico's Baja California coast and Southern California.
As large waves pounded the Malibu coast, the driveway of a beachfront home built on concrete pillars collapsed into a sinkhole on Tuesday morning.