Hurricane Lowell, the 12th named storm of the 2026 Eastern North Pacific hurricane season, passed west of the Hawaiian islands of Kaua’i and Ni’ihau late on Tuesday, 8 September as a Category 2 hurricane. Hurricane-force winds affected Ni’ihau and western Kaua’i, while tropical storm-force winds extended to parts of Oahu. The most significant impacts were reported on Kaua’i, with two fatalities confirmed. Initial modelled estimates and early damage reports indicate insured losses could reach several hundred million US dollars. The Property Claims Services (PCS) has designated Lowell a Catastrophe Event, with an initial insured loss estimate expected within two weeks. No significant impact on the ILS market is expected from Hurricane Lowell.

Hurricane Lowell was an extremely powerful Category 5 storm as it tracked westward to the south of the Hawaiian Islands. A delay in Lowell’s northward turn over the weekend of 5–6 September ultimately allowed the storm more time to weaken before approaching Kaua’i. As a result, Lowell passed west of the island rather than making landfall, significantly reducing the potential impacts compared with the worst-case scenarios associated with such a powerful storm.

Following Lowell, the eastern Tropical Pacific remains active, with Tropical Storm Norbert currently intensifying over open water and two additional areas of potential development being monitored by the National Hurricane Center. Activity across the Tropical Pacific is expected to remain elevated through the remainder of the season.

The Tropical Atlantic, however, remains exceptionally quiet. With no hurricanes and only five weak, short-lived named storms, 2026 has recorded the lowest seasonal Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) since reliable records began in the early 1950s. It is also the third consecutive Atlantic hurricane season with no storm activity during the climatological peak of the season. While the season is still just under halfway through, and no Atlantic season since the 1950s has produced fewer than two hurricanes, the record-breaking El Niño is expected to continue suppressing tropical cyclone development. Overall Atlantic storm activity is therefore expected to remain low through the remainder of the season.

As always, Twelve Securis continues to closely monitor any catastrophe events and will issue specific updates on any relevant new major events which occur. 

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