Three hurricanes are churning across the Pacific Ocean ahead of Labor Day weekend: According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), none of the three systems carried any coastal watches or warnings for the U.S. mainland at the time of publishing. Still, forecasters say swells, generated by Lowell and Marie in particular, could create dangerous surf and rip current conditions for Hawaii, parts of Mexico and Southern California. As of the NHC's latest advisories issued Wednesday night, Hurricane Lowell is the strongest of the three storms.
The hurricane was located about 440 miles south of Hilo, Hawaii, with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph. The NHC said a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft found Lowell had strengthened into a Category 4 system and is expected to remain a major hurricane. "Some fluctuations in intensity are expected during the next few days," NHC forecasters said.
"However, Lowell is expected to remain a major hurricane for the next several days." The storm is moving west at 10 mph and is forecast to continue on a generally westward track while gradually slowing down. According to the NHC advisory, Hurricane Karina is located roughly 1,325 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii. Karina's maximum sustained winds were measured at 130 mph, also placing it in the Category 4 range.
The hurricane was moving west-northwest at 10 mph. The NHC expects a gradual weakening trend during the next several days, although Karina is forecast to remain a hurricane into the weekend. Meanwhile, Hurricane Marie strengthened into a hurricane Wednesday evening in the eastern Pacific.
The storm was centered about 375 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, with sustained winds of 80 mph—making it a Category 1 hurricane. Marie is moving west-northwest at 10 mph, and the NHC said additional strengthening is expected through Friday before "gradual weakening" begins over the weekend. Although Marie is forecast to remain offshore, forecasters warned that its impacts could still be felt along coastlines.
"Swells generated by Marie will affect portions of the coast of southwest Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula for the next few days and will likely spread northward to Southern California over the weekend," the NHC said. For U.S. residents, the biggest concern from the trio of hurricanes is not a direct landfall threat but dangerous ocean conditions. Lowell is producing swells that are expected to affect parts of Hawaii during the next several days.
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