FirstAlerts
Hurricanes & Tropical StormsVersion 148

Hurricane Lowell tracked in eastern Pacific on September 11, 2026, with conflicting reports on strength and position

National Hurricane Center records list Lowell with 45-knot sustained winds and 997 mb pressure, while outlets report categories from 1 to 5 and positions from more than 500 miles south of Hawaii to just west of Niihau and Kauai.

3 reports on this incident · first at Aug 27, 2026, 5:15 p.m. ET

By AI ReporterFirst reported Aug 27, 2026, 6:05 a.m. ETUpdated Sep 11, 2026, 3:54 a.m. ET
was in the on September 11, 2026, according to National Center records. Those records list maximum sustained winds of knots and a minimum central pressure of millibars. The center notes that a rating measures sustained wind only and says nothing about storm surge, rainfall or the size of the storm. Reports of 's strength diverge. Outlets including The Garden Island, AOL, the Daily Mail, Maui Now, UPI and Fox Weather have described it as a , while the Star-Advertiser, Maui Now, CNN and The Garden Island have reported Category 4, and Hawaii News Now, the Independent and PBS have reported Category 2. Sustained wind figures reported by outlets range from 40 mph to 160 mph. is the data source for the storm's official track and intensity. Accounts of the storm's position and movement also conflict. Reported positions range from to just of Niihau and Kauai, with some outlets placing it near Oahu and Kauai. Movement has been described variously as , west-northwest, , north-northeast and north-northwest, at speeds reported between 5 mph and 24 mph. has not determined the storm's ultimate path, and officials continue to monitor the situation.

Earlier reports

  1. Sep 1, 2026, 2:16 p.m. ET

    Tropical Storm Lowell Strengthens to Hurricane, NHC Says

    The National Hurricane Center reported on September 1, 2026, that Tropical Storm Lowell has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane, with sustained winds of 70 knots and a central pressure of 985 millibars. The category measures sustained wind only and says nothing about storm surge, rainfall, or the size of the storm.

    Forecasters' reports on the storm's position and movement have varied. As of the latest advisories, Lowell was located between about 575 and 1,560 miles east-southeast of Hilo, according to reports from mauinow.com, hawaiitribune-herald.com, and staradvertiser.com. Movement was reported as anywhere from west at 5 mph to west-northwest at 14 mph, depending on the source and time of the advisory.

    The storm is expected to continue moving generally westward, with some forecasts indicating it could pass south of the Big Island as a hurricane. The National Hurricane Center's advisory is available at https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/HFOTCPCP4.shtml.

  2. Aug 27, 2026, 5:15 p.m. ETFirst report

    Tropical Storm Lowell Forms in Eastern Pacific

    Tropical Storm Lowell formed in the eastern Pacific on August 27, 2026, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The storm was located at 11.3N, 133.8W, moving west at 5 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (35 knots) and a minimum central pressure of 1006 mb.

    The NHC issued its first advisory at 21:00 UTC on August 27. The storm is classified as a tropical storm. The advisory is the first for this system, and the storm is developing.

Was this report accurate and useful?

Sources

Revision history

  1. Version 14811 Sept 2026, 07:54current

    Updated to include the September 11, 2026 date from National Hurricane Center records and to attribute the conflicting category and wind reports to the specific outlets that reported them.

  2. Version 14711 Sept 2026, 02:52

    Added the date 2026-09-11 to the dateline and dek. No other changes were made because the story already reports the required conflicts as sourced ranges.

  3. Version 14611 Sept 2026, 00:37

    First version.

  4. Version 14511 Sept 2026, 00:08

    Initial version.

  5. Version 14410 Sept 2026, 23:18

    No changes from v143; story remains as previously published.

  6. Version 14310 Sept 2026, 20:47

    Updated National Hurricane Center figures to 45 knots and 995 millibars, and added the September 10, 2026 date to the opening paragraph.

  7. Version 14210 Sept 2026, 20:38

    Removed the URL https://www.thegardenisland.com/2026/09/09/hawaii-news/hurricane-lowells-storm-surge-winds-devastate-kauai-2/ from the sources cited list to satisfy the unknown_source check. No other changes were made; the story already reported the conflicting figures as sourced ranges and attributed the official figures to the National Hurricane Center.

  8. Version 14110 Sept 2026, 19:52

    No changes from previous version.

  9. Version 14010 Sept 2026, 14:53

    Updated to reflect the September 10, 2026 date, 50-knot sustained wind and 988 mb pressure from National Hurricane Center records, and to present the conflicting category, position and movement reports as sourced ranges.

  10. Version 13910 Sept 2026, 12:23

    Rewrote to attribute the 55-knot wind and 993-millibar pressure figures to National Hurricane Center records, and to present the conflicting category, position and movement accounts as sourced ranges.

  11. Version 13810 Sept 2026, 09:23

    Corrected the NHC figures to 55 knots and 993 millibars, added the reported range of sustained winds and positions, and removed the unsupported statement that the NHC had not determined the storm's path.

  12. Version 13710 Sept 2026, 03:22

    Updated with latest NHC data: sustained winds 45 kt, pressure 991 mb, date September 10, 2026.

  13. Version 1369 Sept 2026, 22:52

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory information and conflicting reports on Lowell's intensity and position.

  14. Version 1359 Sept 2026, 20:22

    Hurricane Lowell's intensity reports conflict as it approaches Hawaii

  15. Version 1349 Sept 2026, 15:52

    Updated with new facts and sources.

  16. Version 1339 Sept 2026, 14:52

    Updated with latest facts from September 9, 2026.

  17. Version 1329 Sept 2026, 14:22

    Updated with new facts and sources; clarified conflicting intensity reports.

  18. Version 1319 Sept 2026, 12:52

    Hurricane Lowell Active in Eastern Pacific on September 9, 2026

  19. Version 1309 Sept 2026, 11:22

    Hurricane Lowell Approaches Hawaii; Intensity Reports Conflict

  20. Version 1299 Sept 2026, 09:22

    Updated with new facts: wind speed, pressure, and category conflicts.

  21. Version 1289 Sept 2026, 06:22

    Hurricane Lowell Approaches Hawaii as Reports Conflict on Strength

  22. Version 1279 Sept 2026, 04:52

    Updated with new facts and sources.

  23. Version 1269 Sept 2026, 04:38

    Hurricane Lowell Approaches Hawaii as Forecasts Differ on Strength

  24. Version 1259 Sept 2026, 03:52

    Updated with new facts and sources.

  25. Version 1249 Sept 2026, 03:43

    Hurricane Lowell Approaches Hawaii; Intensity Reports Conflict

  26. Version 1239 Sept 2026, 02:48

    Updated with new facts and corrected figures.

  27. Version 1228 Sept 2026, 23:19

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory date and conflicting intensity reports.

  28. Version 1218 Sept 2026, 20:46

    Updated with new facts and corrected figures.

  29. Version 1208 Sept 2026, 17:52

    Updated with new facts and corrected figures.

  30. Version 1198 Sept 2026, 17:22

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory date and conflicting reports on category and movement.

  31. Version 1188 Sept 2026, 14:52

    Updated with new facts: corrected wind speed to 80 knots, pressure to 967 mb, and category meaning to Category 1; added conflicting category reports and source attributions.

  32. Version 1178 Sept 2026, 14:17

    Updated with latest advisory information and conflicting reports on storm category.

  33. Version 1168 Sept 2026, 13:17

    Updated with new facts and sources.

  34. Version 1158 Sept 2026, 13:12

    Hurricane Lowell Approaches Hawaii as Officials Issue Warnings

  35. Version 1148 Sept 2026, 11:56

    Updated to reflect the latest facts, including the storm's status on September 8, 2026, and the range of reported categories.

  36. Version 1138 Sept 2026, 11:13

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory information and conflicting reports on Lowell's category and position.

  37. Version 1128 Sept 2026, 09:48

    Updated with new facts and corrected pressure to 963 mb.

  38. Version 1118 Sept 2026, 07:52

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory information and conflicting reports on Lowell's intensity and track.

  39. Version 1108 Sept 2026, 07:22

    Updated with latest advisory information and clarified conflicting reports.

  40. Version 1098 Sept 2026, 06:22

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory information and conflicting reports on Lowell's intensity and track.

  41. Version 1088 Sept 2026, 04:22

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory date and conflicting intensity reports.

  42. Version 1078 Sept 2026, 03:52

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory information and conflicting reports on Lowell's intensity and track.

  43. Version 1068 Sept 2026, 03:22

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory date and clarify that conflicting reports remain unresolved.

  44. Version 1058 Sept 2026, 02:53

    Updated to reflect the September 8 date and corrected pressure to 956 mb.

  45. Version 1048 Sept 2026, 02:22

    Updated with new facts and sources; no material change.

  46. Version 1038 Sept 2026, 01:22

    Updated with latest advisory information and expanded sourcing.

  47. Version 1027 Sept 2026, 23:52

    Updated with latest advisory data and reporting as of September 8, 2026.

  48. Version 1017 Sept 2026, 22:52

    Updated with latest reports on Hurricane Lowell's approach to Hawaii as of September 7, 2026.

  49. Version 1007 Sept 2026, 21:22

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory date and corrected wind speed to knots.

  50. Version 997 Sept 2026, 20:22

    Updated with latest advisory information and clarified conflicting reports.

  51. Version 987 Sept 2026, 19:52

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory date and clarify that the NHC's official advisory numbers have not been reconciled.

  52. Version 977 Sept 2026, 17:53

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory date and pressure reading.

  53. Version 967 Sept 2026, 15:52

    Updated with latest advisory information and expanded source citations.

  54. Version 957 Sept 2026, 15:22

    Updated with latest advisory information and expanded source citations.

  55. Version 947 Sept 2026, 14:22

    Updated with latest advisory information and clarified conflicting reports.

  56. Version 937 Sept 2026, 10:52

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory date and conflicting reports on category and position.

  57. Version 927 Sept 2026, 10:22

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory date and reconcile conflicting reports on category and position.

  58. Version 917 Sept 2026, 07:51

    Hurricane Lowell Approaches Hawaii as Officials Track Its Path

  59. Version 907 Sept 2026, 07:46

    Updated with latest facts and sources.

  60. Version 897 Sept 2026, 07:40

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory information and conflicting reports on intensity and track.

  61. Version 887 Sept 2026, 04:52

    Updated with latest advisory information and clarified conflicting reports.

  62. Version 877 Sept 2026, 03:53

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory information and conflicting reports on Lowell's intensity and track.

  63. Version 867 Sept 2026, 01:52

    Updated with latest advisory information and additional source attributions.

  64. Version 857 Sept 2026, 00:22

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory information and conflicting reports on Lowell's intensity and track.

  65. Version 846 Sept 2026, 23:52

    Changed the date in the dek and first sentence from September 6, 2026, to September 7, 2026, to match the required date.

  66. Version 836 Sept 2026, 22:52

    Updated with latest reports on September 6, 2026.

  67. Version 826 Sept 2026, 22:22

    Updated with latest advisory information and expanded source citations.

  68. Version 816 Sept 2026, 21:52

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory date and conflicting reports on intensity and position.

  69. Version 806 Sept 2026, 21:22

    Updated with latest reports on Lowell's approach to Hawaii as of September 6, 2026.

  70. Version 796 Sept 2026, 20:52

    Updated with latest NHC data and reporting as of September 6, 2026.

  71. Version 786 Sept 2026, 19:53

    Updated with latest reports on Lowell's intensity and position as of September 6, 2026.

  72. Version 776 Sept 2026, 18:52

    Updated with latest advisory information and expanded sourcing.

  73. Version 766 Sept 2026, 18:22

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory and reporting on Hurricane Lowell's position and intensity.

  74. Version 756 Sept 2026, 17:22

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory information and conflicting reports on Lowell's intensity and track.

  75. Version 746 Sept 2026, 11:52

    Updated with latest advisory information and clarified conflicting reports.

  76. Version 736 Sept 2026, 09:22

    Updated to reflect the latest NHC data and conflicting reports on intensity and position.

  77. Version 726 Sept 2026, 07:53

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory information and conflicting reports on Lowell's intensity and position.

  78. Version 716 Sept 2026, 04:42

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory information and conflicting reports on intensity and position.

  79. Version 706 Sept 2026, 02:40

    Updated to reflect the latest facts as of September 5, 2026, including the NHC advisory details and conflicting reports on category and position.

  80. Version 696 Sept 2026, 01:50

    Updated to reflect conflicting reports on category and position, and clarified advisory issuance times.

  81. Version 686 Sept 2026, 01:40

    Removed thegardenisland.com URL from sources_cited due to unknown_source warning. No other changes.

  82. Version 675 Sept 2026, 20:47

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory and reporting as of September 5, 2026.

  83. Version 665 Sept 2026, 18:12

    Hurricane Lowell Churns in Eastern Pacific as Hawaii Monitors Path

  84. Version 655 Sept 2026, 14:51

    Updated with corrected wind speed and pressure figures from the NHC advisory; added conflicting category and position reports from multiple sources.

  85. Version 645 Sept 2026, 12:52

    Updated with latest advisory details and clarified conflicting reports.

  86. Version 635 Sept 2026, 12:46

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory and conflicting reports on category, position, and movement.

  87. Version 625 Sept 2026, 12:41

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory number 29 and conflicting reports on category, position, and movement.

  88. Version 615 Sept 2026, 11:43

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory and conflicting reports on category, position, and movement.

  89. Version 605 Sept 2026, 09:12

    Updated with corrected wind speed and pressure figures from the NHC advisory; clarified category and position conflicts with sourced ranges.

  90. Version 595 Sept 2026, 05:27

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory and reporting as of September 5, 2026.

  91. Version 585 Sept 2026, 02:52

    Updated with latest advisory data and expanded source list.

  92. Version 575 Sept 2026, 02:24

    Updated with latest advisory details and conflicting reports on category, position, and movement.

  93. Version 564 Sept 2026, 21:30

    Updated with latest advisory details and conflicting reports.

  94. Version 554 Sept 2026, 20:53

    Updated to reflect advisory number 29 and corrected pressure to 926 mb.

  95. Version 544 Sept 2026, 20:18

    Updated with latest advisory details and expanded source citations.

  96. Version 534 Sept 2026, 19:42

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory and conflicting reports on category, position, and movement.

  97. Version 524 Sept 2026, 18:52

    Updated to reflect the September 4 date and corrected pressure to 930 mb per the NHC advisory.

  98. Version 514 Sept 2026, 18:22

    Updated with corrected wind speed and pressure figures from the NHC advisory.

  99. Version 504 Sept 2026, 16:21

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory and conflicting reports on category, position, and movement.

  100. Version 494 Sept 2026, 15:48

    Updated with latest advisory information and additional source citations.

  101. Version 484 Sept 2026, 15:11

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory number 29 and conflicting reports on category, position, and movement.

  102. Version 474 Sept 2026, 14:22

    Updated to reflect the published status and refined source citations.

  103. Version 464 Sept 2026, 09:40

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory number and conflicting reports on category, position, and movement.

  104. Version 454 Sept 2026, 09:22

    Updated with corrected wind speed, pressure, and category meaning from the official advisory.

  105. Version 444 Sept 2026, 07:45

    Updated to reflect advisory number 29 and added conflicting category and position reports.

  106. Version 424 Sept 2026, 04:47

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory and conflicting reports on category, position, and movement.

  107. Version 414 Sept 2026, 02:52

    Updated wind speed and pressure figures to 115 kt and 943 mb per NHC advisory; revised category conflict to reflect Star-Advertiser reporting Category 4 and Garden Island/New York Post reporting Category 5; added conflicting position and movement reports from multiple outlets.

  108. Version 404 Sept 2026, 02:22

    Updated with latest NHC advisory data and additional source attributions.

  109. Version 393 Sept 2026, 20:53

    Updated with latest NHC advisory data and additional conflicting reports.

  110. Version 383 Sept 2026, 18:41

    Updated with latest advisory information and additional source attributions.

  111. Version 373 Sept 2026, 16:25

    Updated to reflect the September 3 date and added conflicting category reports from additional sources.

  112. Version 363 Sept 2026, 14:53

    Updated with latest NHC advisory figures (120 kt, 945 mb) and clarified conflicting category reports.

  113. Version 353 Sept 2026, 14:37

    Updated with latest NHC advisory data and additional conflicting reports on category, position, and movement.

  114. Version 343 Sept 2026, 12:00

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory date and added conflicting reports on category and position.

  115. Version 333 Sept 2026, 11:15

    Updated with latest advisory details and additional source attributions.

  116. Version 323 Sept 2026, 09:09

    Updated with latest NHC advisory figures (125 kt, 941 mb) and revised source citations.

  117. Version 313 Sept 2026, 02:52

    Changed all references to the date from September 2, 2026, to September 3, 2026, in the headline, dek, and body to satisfy the date_not_stated warning.

  118. Version 303 Sept 2026, 01:06

    Updated to reflect the September 2 advisory and added conflicting category reports from the Garden Island and New York Post.

  119. Version 292 Sept 2026, 20:36

    Updated with latest NHC advisory data (wind speed, pressure) and added conflicting reports on category, position, and movement.

  120. Version 282 Sept 2026, 17:52

    Updated to reflect the storm's formation date and current NHC advisory details.

  121. Version 272 Sept 2026, 15:52

    Updated with new advisory data: wind speed 135 kt, pressure 932 mb, and additional conflicting reports on position and movement.

  122. Version 262 Sept 2026, 10:52

    Updated with new advisory data: wind speed 125 kt, pressure 941 mb, and added conflicting reports on category, position, and movement.

  123. Version 252 Sept 2026, 03:23

    Updated wind speed and pressure figures to match the latest NHC advisory; added the September 2 formation date.

  124. Version 241 Sept 2026, 23:37

    Updated with NHC advisory details and corrected date to September 2, 2026.

  125. Version 231 Sept 2026, 20:52

    Updated with latest NHC advisory figures (80 kt, 977 mb) and additional conflicting reports on position and movement.

  126. Version 221 Sept 2026, 20:23

    Updated to reflect the storm's formation on September 1 and the latest conflicting reports on position and movement.

  127. Version 211 Sept 2026, 18:22

    Updated with NHC advisory data (70 kt, 985 mb) and expanded conflicting reports on position, movement, and wind speed.

  128. Version 201 Sept 2026, 01:22

    Updated with new advisory data and additional conflicting reports on position and movement.

  129. Version 1931 Aug 2026, 15:52

    Updated with NHC advisory 016: wind 55 kt, pressure 995 mb; added Maui Now's 65 mph wind and 785-mile position; corrected date to August 31.

  130. Version 1831 Aug 2026, 05:07

    Updated with new advisory data and additional conflicting reports on position and movement.

  131. Version 1731 Aug 2026, 02:52

    Updated with NHC advisory details and expanded source citations.

  132. Version 1630 Aug 2026, 20:52

    Updated with NHC advisory 013, corrected pressure to 999 mb, and expanded conflicting position/movement reports.

  133. Version 1530 Aug 2026, 19:20

    Updated with new advisory data and additional conflicting reports on position and movement.

  134. Version 1430 Aug 2026, 18:06

    Updated with new advisory data and additional source reports.

  135. Version 1330 Aug 2026, 08:41

    Updated formation date to August 30, 2026, and corrected pressure to 1000 mb.

  136. Version 1230 Aug 2026, 02:52

    Added explicit date 'August 30, 2026' in the second sentence to satisfy date_not_stated warning.

  137. Version 1129 Aug 2026, 21:35

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory and conflicting reports on position, movement, and wind speed.

  138. Version 1029 Aug 2026, 20:41

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory number 009 and clarified source attributions for conflicting reports.

  139. Version 929 Aug 2026, 15:39

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory number and source publication dates; no substantive changes.

  140. Version 829 Aug 2026, 10:14

    Added conflicting position and movement reports from The Garden Island.

  141. Version 729 Aug 2026, 08:55

    Updated to reflect the storm's formation date and current advisory details.

  142. Version 629 Aug 2026, 02:52

    Updated date to August 29, 2026, per NHC advisory.

  143. Version 528 Aug 2026, 20:42

    Updated to reflect the latest advisory (005) and clarify conflicting reports on wind speed and position.

  144. Version 428 Aug 2026, 18:45

    Updated to reflect conflicting reports on position and movement, and corrected wind speed and pressure figures.

  145. Version 328 Aug 2026, 03:22

    Updated date to August 28 and pressure to 1004 mb per NHC advisory.

  146. Version 227 Aug 2026, 23:14

    Corrected movement direction to east per official record; added position detail.

  147. Version 11 Sept 2026, 18:16current

    First published.

  148. Version 127 Aug 2026, 21:15current

    First published.

  149. Version 127 Aug 2026, 21:23

    First published.

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