official data
Lowell still Cat 4 at 150 mph — Hawaii watches likely later today
At 500 AM HST (1500 UTC) Saturday 5 September 2026, CPHC/NHC Hurricane Lowell Advisory Number 38 places the center near 13.4°N, 162.6°W — about 630 miles south-southwest of Lihue and 625 miles south-southwest of Honolulu — with maximum sustained winds near 150 mph, motion west near 7 mph, and estimated minimum central pressure 931 mb. Lowell remains a Category 4 hurricane. No coastal watches or warnings are in effect; the advisory states watches will likely be required for portions of the western main Hawaiian Islands and the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument later today. On the forecast track, the center moves across portions of the Monument just west of the main islands Monday night. Fluctuations in intensity are possible for about a day, then gradual weakening Sunday and Monday. Named rainfall and life-threatening surf hazards are in the advisory text.
Key facts
- Center
- 13.4°N, 162.6°W — about 630 mi (1015 km) SSW of Lihue / about 625 mi (1010 km) SSW of Honolulu
- Intensity / pressure
- 150 mph (240 km/h) Category 4; estimated minimum central pressure 931 mb (27.50 in)
- Motion
- West (275°) at 7 mph (11 km/h); turn NW by tonight; faster N/NNE Sunday–Monday
- Watches
- None in effect; watches will likely be required later today for western main Hawaiian Islands and Papahānaumokuākea
- Wind field
- Hurricane-force winds outward up to 60 mi; tropical-storm-force up to 160 mi
- Rain / surf (advisory)
- Kauai/Big Island 3–6 in (max >10 possible); Maui 2–4 (isolated 8); life-threatening surf and rip currents
Note
Primary: NWS CPHC Honolulu / NHC Miami — Hurricane Lowell Advisory Number 38, 500 AM HST Sat Sep 05 2026 (EP122026). https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2026/ep12/ep122026.public.038.shtml
This note freezes Advisory 38. Current intensity and track belong on the live NHC HUD. It is not a Hawaii landfall forecast and not Cat 5 confirmation. Distinct from Marie and Karina same-basin storms. Distinct from Adv. 35 Cat 4 and Adv. 36 Cat 5 notes.
What it is not: Hawaii landfall call; coastal watch/warning in effect; invented watch polygons beyond “later today / western main islands + Monument.”
- Source: CPHC/NHC Adv. 38, 500 AM HST Sat Sep 05 2026
- Cat 4 / 150 mph / 931 mb — not Cat 5
- Watches likely later today; none in effect at advisory time
- Supersedes Adv. 35 on the Wire
Why it matters
Material Saturday update vs Adv. 35 (then 13.2°N/160.7°W, 926 mb, “watches could be required Saturday”). Language hardened to “will likely,” pressure now 931 mb, center farther west, rain totals named for Kauai/Big Island/Maui. Supersedes Adv. 35 (and unpublished Adv. 36 Cat 5) on the Wire. Not a landfall call. Intensity/track beyond the product = live NHC HUD.
Sources
- NWS CPHC Honolulu / NHC Miami — Hurricane Lowell Advisory Number 38
- NHC live public advisory wallet (CPHC)
- NHC / CPHC Central Pacific
Official data.