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

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.

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).

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.

A rare hurricane warning is in effect Kauai and Niihau as the storm’s projected path ekes closer to the state.

Hurricane Lowell track has nudged east, raising chances for near hurricane-force gusts on Kauai, as well as heavy rain across the Hawaiian Islands.

As the hurricane moved closer, the Hawaiian island of Kauai’s annual marathon was canceled. Some residents went ahead with their holiday weekend plans.

Hurricane Lowell and Tropical Storm Karina are not forecasted to make landfall but are bringing high surf impacts to the Hawaiian Islands over the holiday weekend.