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COURTESY CPHC
The five-day forecast map of Tropical Storm Lowell as of 5 a.m. today
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COURTESY CPHC
This graphic shows the wind-forecast map for Tropical Storm Lowell as of this morning. The outer end of the wind forecast for Hurricane Karina in the East Pacific is seen in the upper-right corner.
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COURTESY NHC
The five-day forecast map of Hurricane Karina as of 5 a.m. today
Tropical Storm Lowell entered the Central Pacific this morning and is on a track that will bring it south of Hawaii as a strong Category 2 hurricane by the end of this week, forecasters said.
Lowell had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph at 5 a.m. and was centered about 1,070 miles east-southeast of Hilo, moving west at 13 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center on Oahu. Tropical storm-force winds of 39 mph or more extend up to 70 miles from the center.
“Gradual strengthening is expected during the next few days, and Lowell could become a hurricane by Monday or Monday night,’ forecasters said.
On the current five-day forecast map, Lowell will be several hundred miles south of Hilo on Thursday when it is expected to take a more northwesterly turn. By Friday morning, the end of the forecast period, it will have maximum sustained winds of 110 mph and be south of Maui County, CPHC predicted.
Farther out in the East Pacific, Hurricane Karina was also growing stronger over the open ocean today.
As of 5 a.m., Karina had 80 mph maximum sustained winds and was 880 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, moving west-northwest at 9 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, which monitors the East Pacific. Hurricane force winds of 74 mph or more extend up to 25 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds extend up to 230 miles.
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Karina is expected to peak as a Category 3 hurricane with 120 mph winds Monday and Tuesday, then gradually weaken through the rest of the weak over the open ocean as it nears the Central Pacific, forecasters said.
CPHC noted that the intensity of Lowell by the end of the week “will depend on how close Lowell and the larger Karina are, as the closer they are the weaker Lowell is likely to be.”
On the Big Island, which is still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Lala earlier this month, the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency urged residents to monitor the progress of Lowell.
“Although it is too early to forecast with confidence what if any effects Lowell will have on the state, it is always better to take the time to prepare for possible bad weather,” officials said in a public notification today. “As we continue through what has been forecast to be a more active hurricane season, residents and businesses are encouraged to review and develop preparedness plans.”