Hurricane Lowell has battered Hawaii with powerful winds, torrential rain and huge waves, leaving homes damaged and communities facing widespread disruption across the western islands.
The storm brought gusts of up to 90mph and as much as two feet of rain in some areas, with footage showing homes devastated by the force of the weather and coastal waters.
Kauai was among the worst-hit areas, where fierce winds brought down trees and caused widespread power cuts. The island’s utility provider said nearly all of its customers were without electricity early on Tuesday.
Officials urged residents to stay off the roads as emergency crews began assessing the damage. Roads were blocked by fallen trees, debris and floodwater, while authorities warned that mudslides and flash flooding remained a serious risk.
The National Weather Service said Lowell reached its closest point to the main Hawaiian islands around midnight before beginning to move away. At the time, the hurricane was about 110 miles north-west of Lihue and had maximum sustained winds of 105mph.
Wind gusts of up to 80mph were recorded across Kauai and Oahu, with dangerous conditions continuing even as the storm’s centre moved northwards. Forecasters warned that heavy rain bands could persist into Wednesday, with further rainfall of up to six inches expected in parts of the Big Island.
Large swells also battered the coastline, with waves of up to 30ft forecast along south and west-facing shores of Kauai. The National Weather Service cautioned that flooding on already saturated ground could trigger landslides, damage roads and leave some structures uninhabitable.
Hurricane warnings were issued for Kauai and Niihau, while a tropical storm warning covered parts of Oahu. Schools and government offices were closed on several islands as residents were told to remain indoors and follow emergency instructions.
