Officials in Hawaii are urging residents to prepare for heavy rains and flooding as Hurricane Lowell, a major Category 3 storm, prompted forecasters to issue a tropical storm warning for two islands.

Kauai has been told to brace for damaging winds, flooding rain and dangerous surf as Hurricane Lowell approaches.

The strongest of these Central and Eastern Pacific hurricanes is Lowell, which peaked twice as a Category 5 storm over the Labor Day weekend and was expected to pass just west of Kauai and Niihau on Monday night, forcing a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch for Kauai County and a tropical storm watch for Oahu (see below).

Hurricane Lowell tracked roughly 500 miles southwest of Honolulu on Sunday night as a Category 3 storm, moving northwest at 6 mph on a path projected to bring heavy rain, rough seas, and high winds to the Hawaiian Islands through Tuesday.

Officials in Hawaii urged residents and visitors to prepare for heavy rains, flooding and possibly mudslides as Hurricane Lowell, a major Category 3 storm, prompted the National Hurricane Center to issue a tropical storm warning for two islands on Sunday.

Forecasters warn Lowell could be near major hurricane strength as it moves close to the western Hawaiian Islands next week.

Tropical Storm Moke is passing to the south of Hawaii's Big Island on Sunday, close enough to dump a foot or more of rain on communities dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Lala.

AN URGENT hurricane warning has gone into effect in Hawaii as residents scramble for supplies ahead of a powerful storm bearing down on the islands. Shelves have been stripped of emergency gear