Hurricane Lowell lashes Hawaii with heavy rain, flooding and dangerous surf

Officials are warning residents to prepare for potentially severe impacts from Hurricane Lowell as the powerful storm brings heavy rain, flooding and dangerous surf to Hawaii.

(CNN)- Officials are warning residents to prepare for potentially severe impacts from Hurricane Lowell as the powerful storm brings heavy rain, flooding and dangerous surf to Hawaii.

“We are preparing for the worst,” Kauai Emergency Management Agency Administrator Elton Ushio said. “We are treating it as if we are preparing for a direct hit.”

Lowell was a Category 2 hurricane as of Monday afternoon, with its outer rain bands already lashing parts of the state. Officials warned residents to prepare for damaging winds, heavy rainfall, flash flooding and storm surge. The hurricane’s projected track shifted about 75 miles east since Sunday, bringing the storm closer to Kauai than previously anticipated. Conditions were rapidly deteriorating Monday across Hawaii’s western islands, where Lowell’s impacts were expected to peak Monday night into Tuesday morning.

Kauai County Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami urged residents to begin sheltering in place as the storm approached. Many residents stocked up on supplies, while travelers changed or canceled flights because of the hurricane.

Lowell’s effects were also being felt farther east across the state, including on Oahu, where heavy rainfall flooded roads.