A second hurricane just sideswiped Hawaii – why the islands’ usual force field seems to be down in 2026

Hurricane Lowell's eyewall brushed Niihau and Kauai on Sept. 8, 2026, knocking out power and flooding roads, marking Hawaii's second hurricane brush of the year after Hurricane Lala grazed the Big Island in August with the first hurricane-force winds there since 1871. An atmospheric scientist explains Hawaii typically avoids major hurricane damage because cooler ocean water east of the islands starves storms of fuel before they arrive.

This year, a strong El Niño has warmed Pacific waters and shifted storm tracks, letting Lala and Lowell intensify on paths similar to historic storms like Iniki in 1992. The 2026 season, with 14 named storms and five hurricanes so far, is described as the most active start since 2021, with the season running through November.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.