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Hurricane hunters put Lowell at Cat 4 / 155 mph — Hawaii monitoring continues

Origin Lane: climateCentral Pacific south of Hilo, Hawaii

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center / National Hurricane Center Hurricane Lowell Advisory Number 27, issued at 5:00 PM HST Wednesday 2 September 2026 (0300 UTC), places the center near 13.3°N, 155.2°W — about 440 miles (710 km) south of Hilo, Hawaii. Maximum sustained winds are 155 mph (250 km/h). Minimum central pressure estimated from NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft data is 933 mb (27.55 in). Motion is west at 10 mph. Lowell is a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Earlier the same day, Advisory 26 had classified Lowell as a Category 5 near 160 mph on satellite intensity estimates before the aircraft reassessment. Some intensity fluctuations are expected, but Lowell is forecast to remain a major hurricane for the next several days. No coastal watches or warnings are in effect. Swells generated by Lowell are spreading northward and will affect portions of the Hawaiian Islands for several days, with life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. The forecast discussion states that long-range track and intensity details are more uncertain than usual and that it is too soon to determine potential impacts in the Hawaiian Islands; interests should continue to monitor and ensure hurricane plans and supply kits are in place.

Official CPHC/NHC center fix near 13.3°N, 155.2°W (~440 mi south of Hilo). Source map
Center
13.3°N, 155.2°W — about 440 mi (710 km) S of Hilo, Hawaii
Intensity / motion
155 mph (250 km/h); min pressure 933 mb (aircraft); W at 10 mph
Category
Category 4 (Adv. 27 aircraft); same-day Adv. 26 had Category 5 ~160 mph on satellite estimates
Outlook
Remain major hurricane several days; intensity fluctuations / possible eyewall replacement cycles
Watches / warnings
No coastal watches or warnings in effect
Hawaii hazard
Northward swells — life-threatening surf and rip currents for several days; long-range impacts too soon to determine

NOAA HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT REPORTS LOWELL IS NOW A CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE

CPHC/NHC Hurricane Lowell Advisory Number 27, Sep 2, 2026

Primary source preference: CPHC/NHC Hurricane Lowell Advisory Number 27 and Discussion Number 27 (EP122026) at 0300 UTC 3 September 2026. Same-day Advisory 26’s Category 5 classification was based on satellite estimates before NOAA Hurricane Hunter data. Doom Signals does not invent intensity or Hawaii landfall claims beyond those products.

Key discussion points include high oceanic heat content and currently low shear, slow decay in the intensity guidance despite a favorable environment, and a mid-/upper-level trough that may eventually allow a northward turn with large track spread at days 4–5.

  • Advisory: Hurricane Lowell Adv. 27 / Discussion 27, EP122026
  • Place: Central Pacific south of Hilo, Hawaii
  • Official coords: 13.3, −155.2

Why it matters

Evening aircraft-backed Adv. 27 advances the AM Cat-4/possible-Cat-5 board note with a same-day Cat-5 peak then Cat-4 reassessment, a fresh center fix, and explicit Hawaii monitor/plan key messages while swells continue.

Sources

Official data. Not a forecast.

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