Hurricane Lowell is set to hit Hawaii with up to 16 inches of rain, potentially causing flash floods and overflowing streams. Power outages and storm surge are also expected.

The islands have a history of vulnerability to tropical cyclones, which can exacerbate existing infrastructure weaknesses and lead to significant economic disruption.

Long-term, repeated exposure to such extreme weather events could accelerate coastal erosion and threaten the stability of critical infrastructure in Hawaii.