Hawaii is experiencing an intense hurricane season due to a historic El Niño. In the past month, three hurricanes have impacted the state. The latest, Hurricane Nolo, narrowly missed Hawaii, while Hurricanes Lowell and Lala brought significant rainfall and flooding. These storms caused power outages, road washouts, and home destructions.
A resident in Hawaiian Ocean View, Hawaii, transported supplies amidst the heavy rains from Hurricane Lala on August 15. The region has seen unusually warm ocean temperatures for months, stretching over a vast area, fostering conditions favorable for tropical storm formation and intensification into hurricanes.
The equatorial Pacific Ocean exhibits a stripe of warmer than average water, indicated by orange and red shading, marking the strongest El Niño recorded. Though hurricanes are not uncommon in the area, they typically diminish before reaching Hawaii due to cooler ocean waters and strong winds, usually making direct impacts rare. This year, conditions differ significantly.
A teenager navigated through water near Mountain View, Hawaii, post-Hurricane Lala on August 16. Elsewhere, a woman and child traversed a debris-littered street in Naalehu, Hawaii, after the same storm on August 17.
On September 8, Hurricane Lowell generated large waves on Oahu’s west side. Its heavy winds and rains left communities without power for several days. In tourist-reliant areas, residents expressed concern over financial impacts, with Hurricane Lowell causing significant damage to homes and hotels on Kauai’s south shore.
According to Honolulu Civil Beat, thousands experienced water shortages, and several families faced displacement. Officials confirmed Lowell destroyed ten homes and inflicted major damage on at least 67 more. Kauai reported damage from floods, landslides, and fallen trees.
As the hurricane season persists until November in the eastern and central Pacific, El Niño poses a heightened risk for storms later in the season. Hawaii remains on alert.
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