A second hurricane just sideswiped Hawaii – why the islands’ usual force field seems to be down in 2026
A satellite closeup of Hurricane Lowell on Sept. 8, 2026, after it passed just west of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands.
Hawaiian Islands rarely experience significant hurricane damage, despite their tropical location. Historically, only a few notable storms have directly impacted the islands, such as Hurricanes Dot (1959), Iwa (1982), Iniki (1992), and Lane (2018). For example, Hurricane Iniki caused 145 mph wind gusts that damaged about 70% of Kauai’s homes and businesses and over 550 buildings on Oahu. The islands’ small size and the presence of cooler ocean waters to the east typically act as a shield, weakening hurricanes before they reach land. However, in 2026, the islands experienced two hurricanes in quick succession: Hurricane Lala in August and Hurricane Lowell in September, both bringing hurricane-force winds and heavy damage.
Hawaii’s geographic and oceanic conditions usually protect it from hurricanes. First, the islands are a small target in the vast Pacific Ocean, making it statistically unlikely for a hurricane to pass directly over them. Second, the ocean to the east of Hawaii is significantly cooler, which weakens hurricanes approaching from that direction by depriving them of warm water fuel. Additionally, a semipermanent high-pressure system called the Hawaiian High or subtropical ridge steers most storms westward, away from the islands. This system creates sinking air that disrupts hurricane formation and directs storms around its edges. For instance, the typical storm track in the central Pacific is a straight line toward the west, missing Hawaii.
Hurricane Lowell, the 14th named Pacific storm of 2026, took an unusual path toward Hawaii. Unlike most storms that travel westward, Lowell developed east-southeast of the islands and tracked south of them before making a sharp turn northward. This unusual trajectory was influenced by a low-pressure trough migrating southward, which accelerated the storm and directed it toward Kauai and Niihau. The storm brought heavy downpours, high surf, and hurricane-force wind gusts, knocking out power and flooding roads. Such sharp turns are rare and typically occur when atmospheric conditions, like the presence of low-pressure systems, disrupt the usual steering patterns of hurricanes.
El Niño is a climate phenomenon characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the tropical Pacific. In 2026, a strong El Niño year, the Pacific Ocean was significantly warmer than normal, particularly to the south and east of Hawaii. This warming contributed to increased hurricane activity in the region. Research from the University of Hawaii-Manoa found that El Niño years see a significant increase in the frequency and likelihood of tropical cyclones near Hawaii due to higher atmospheric humidity and favorable wind patterns. For example, Hurricane Lala intensified into a Category 1 hurricane as it approached the Big Island from the east, passing just south of the island chain. El Niño also tends to make the Atlantic hurricane season quieter, as observed in 2026.
The 2026 Pacific hurricane season has been notably active, with 14 named storms and 5 hurricanes by early September. This includes Hurricane Lowell, Hurricane Marie, and Hurricane Karina, which reached Category 5, Category 2, and Category 4 strengths, respectively. The season typically peaks in late summer and early fall, with hurricane activity near Hawaii becoming less likely as the year progresses. However, the risk of hurricane landfalls rises for the Pacific coast of Mexico during this period. In recent years, powerful Pacific storms like Hurricanes Willa (2018), Roslyn (2022), and Otis (2023) have made landfall in Mexico in late October. Meanwhile, the Atlantic hurricane season in 2026 is forecast to remain much less active than normal, even during its peak months.
