‘Stay indoors’: Hawaii governor’s urgent warning as Hurricane Lowell threatens mudslides, rip currents and tornadoes

Josh Green closed schools and government offices on the westernmost islands of Kauai and Niihau and on Oahu for Tuesday as Hurricane Lowell was expected to pass nearby, bringing damaging winds, mudslides, possible tornadoes, dangerous rip currents and as much as 24 inches (about 60 centimeters) of rain to some areas on Kauai. The closures, which include community colleges and state and county offices, were put into effect for Oahu and Kauai County, which was under a hurricane warning issued by the National Hurricane Center. Kauai County includes the major islands of Kauai, which has a population of over 73,000, and Niihau, where there are fewer than 100 residents. A portion of the vast Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument was also included in the warning. The weather agency also warned late Monday of the possibility of “several tornadoes” near Kauai and Niihau in the evening and overnight, with tornadoes also possible on other Hawaiian Islands.

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