Lowell rapidly intensifies to Category 5; forecast to remain major hurricane for several days

(11 a.m. Update, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026) Hurricane Lowell has rapidly intensified into a Category 5 system and is expected to remain a major hurricane for the next several days, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

At 11 a.m. HST, the center of Hurricane Lowell was located about 445 miles S of Hilo, Hawaiʻi, near latitude 13.3 North, longitude 154.3 West. Lowell is moving toward the west near 10 mph. This general motion with a gradual decrease in forward speed is expected during the next few days, the CPHC reports.

Forecasters say maximum sustained winds have increased to near 160 mph with higher gusts. Lowell is a category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, and it is expected to remain a major hurricane for the next several days. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 927 mb (27.38 inches).

According to the latest CPHC Forecast Discussion, a sharp turn toward the north or north-northeast is forecast at days 4-5 while Lowell interacts with an upper-level feature. There is large spread in the various models regarding how sharp of a turn occurs. Forecasters say the overall trend has been an “eastward shift in the long-range track envelope.”

The National Weather Service reports the forecast remains uncertain for the upcoming Labor Day weekend due to both Lowell and Karina remaining in the central Pacific over the coming days.

According to the NWS, swells generated by Lowell are spreading northward and will affect portions of the Hawaiian Islands during the next several days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.