Hurricane Lowell intensified to Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale as it moved south of Hawaii on Wednesday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Hurricane Lowell was located at latitude 13.3°N and longitude 154.3°W which put the center about 445 miles (715 km) south Hilo, Hawaii. Lowell was moving toward the west at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 160 m.p.h. (260 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 190 m.p.h. (305 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 927 mb.
Hurricane Lowell intensified to Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale on Wednesday. A circular eye with a diameter of 17 miles (28 km) was at the center of Lowell’s circulation the eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Hurricane Lowell. Storms near the center generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.
The circulation around Hurricane Lowell was small. Winds to hurricane force extended out 35 miles (55 km) from the center of Lowell’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 90 miles (145 km) from the center of Hurricane Lowell.
The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Lowell is 35.0. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 11.5 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 46.5. Hurricane Lowell is similar in intensity to Hurricane MIchael when Michael hit Northwest Florida in 2018. Lowell is a little smaller than Michael was.
Hurricane Lowell will move through an environment favorable for a strong hurricane during the next 24 hours. Lowell will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind wind shear. Hurricane Lowell could intensify during the next 24 hours unless an eyewall replacement cycle occurs.
Hurricane Lowell will move around the southern side of a high pressure system that is over the Central North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Lowell toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Lowell will remain south of Hawaii on Thursday.
Elsewhere, Major Hurricane Karina continued to move westward and Tropical Storm Marie intensified gradually on Wednesday.
At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Hurricane Karina was located at latitude 18.9°N and longitude 133.8°W which put the center about 1390 miles (2235 km) east of Hilo, Hawaii. Karina was moving toward the west-northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 140 m.p.h. (225 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 165 m.p.h. (265 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 943 mb.
At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Marie was located at latitude 18.0°N and longitude 112.5°W which put the center about 380 miles (610 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Marie was moving toward the northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 70 m.p.h. (110 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 992 mb.
