Hurricane Lowell Prompts Warnings For Hawaii

LOS ANGELES, Sept 8 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- Hurricane warnings have been issued for parts of Hawaii as Hurricane Lowell approaches the western Hawaiian Islands, while tropical storm alerts are also in effect for Oahu, according to the latest updates from the United States (US) National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) on Monday.

The warnings are now in effect for Kauai, Niihau and surrounding waters to the north, south and west, the NWS Honolulu office said.

The centre of Hurricane Lowell is forecast to pass near or west of Niihau on Monday night and early Tuesday, with hurricane conditions expected in Kauai County from Monday night, the NHC said in an update.

Conditions are expected to deteriorate Monday afternoon. Higher wind gusts are expected atop mountains and on windward and leeward slopes, according to the NHC.

Hurricane Lowell is expected to produce significant flash flooding and mudslides, especially across Kauai County and portions of the Big Island, the NHC said.

Swells generated by Hurricane Lowell are expected to produce life-threatening surf and rip current conditions across many of the Hawaiian Islands over the next several days, the NHC warned.

-- BERNAMA-XINHUA