✈️ Travel Impact

Tropical Storm Lowell Could Become a Hurricane by Monday, NHC Says

Tropical Storm Lowell was located near latitude 13.2N, longitude 139.1W as of 11 p.m. HST Saturday, about 1,150 miles southeast of Hilo, Hawaii, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is moving west at 10 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and a minimum central pressure of 1000 mb. Tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 80 miles from the center. The NHC says gradual strengthening is expected over the next few days, and Lowell could become a hurricane by Monday or Monday night. There are currently no coastal watches or warnings in effect, and no hazards affecting land are noted. This was the final advisory from the National Hurricane Center on this system; future updates will come from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center starting at 5 a.m. HST.
💡 What This Means For You

If you're sailing anywhere near the Central Pacific over the next few days, note that Lowell sits far offshore — about 1,150 miles southeast of Hilo — with no coastal watches or warnings currently in effect. Check for updates from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center starting at 5 a.m. HST, since the NHC has closed out its advisories on this storm. Watch for potential hurricane strengthening by Monday or Monday night.

📝 Mark's Take

What stands out here is the handoff: this is literally the last public advisory the National Hurricane Center will issue on Lowell, with the baton passing to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center at 5 a.m. HST. That's a bureaucratic detail, but it matters if you're tracking this storm — you need to know where to look next. Lowell itself is still a modest system, 50 mph winds, 1000 mb pressure, sitting 1,150 miles southeast of Hilo with zero coastal watches or warnings. The NHC does flag it could reach hurricane strength by Monday or Monday night, which is the number I'd watch most closely. My read: nothing here demands action yet, but I'd bookmark the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's site over the weekend rather than assume the NHC will keep talking.

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