Hawaii braces for 6-10 inches of rain as Category 3 Hurricane Lowell nears islands

LIHUE, Hawaii (AP) — Officials in Hawaii urged residents and visitors to prepare for heavy rains, flooding and possibly mudslides as Hurricane Lowell, a major Category 3 storm, prompted the National Hurricane Center to issue a tropical storm warning for two islands on Sunday. The Miami-based center issued the warning and a hurricane watch for Kauai and Niihau as Lowell was forecast to pass the islands to the west late Monday while traveling north. Forecasters said rainfall totals of 6-10 inches (15-25 centimeters), with maximum totals of 14 inches (36 centimeters), were possible. Hawaii's Big Island is expected to see 4-8 inches (10-20 centimeters) of rain, with some areas getting as much as 12 inches (30 centimeters). Lowell had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 kph) and was located about 535 miles (860 kilometers) south-southwest of Lihue, or about 555 miles (895 kilometers) southwest of Honolulu.

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