As heavy downpours continue in Hawaii, a tornado watch has been issued for the state for the first time in history.

U.S. daily newspapers The Washington Post and Forbes reported on the 8th (local time) that the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a tornado watch for the Hawaiian islands of Kauai and Niihau the previous night.

The NWS explained, "As Hurricane Lowell approaches, there is a risk of fast-moving tornadoes or waterspouts developing near the waters off Kauai and Niihau," adding, "While the risk of tornadoes is lower on the other islands, it is not zero."

While hurricane watches and warnings have frequently been issued for the Hawaiian archipelago, this marks the first time a tornado watch has ever been issued, The Washington Post reported.

A total of 42 tornadoes were observed in Hawaii between 1950 and 2018.

Until now, watches—which signify that weather conditions favorable for tornadoes have formed—had never been issued, with warnings having been released only after tornadoes were actually identified.

The risk of tornadoes appears to have escalated as Hurricane Lowell approached on this day, generating rotating rainbands at its outer edges.

As the hurricane passed west of Niihau, strong winds, heavy rain, and high surf battered areas across Hawaii.

A hurricane warning remains in effect for Kauai, and a tropical storm warning is in place for Oahu.

In southeastern Kauai, wind speeds reached 53 mph (approx. 85 km/h), with peak gusts hitting 75 mph (121 km/h).

Nawiliwili also recorded strong gusts of up to 87 mph (140 km/h).

At the summit of Mount Waialeale on Kauai, torrential rainfall of about 15.19 inches (386 mm) poured down, while the southern areas of Kalaheo and Kekaha received 3.4 inches (86 mm) and 4.2 inches (106 mm) of rain, respectively.

Weather conditions in Hawaii have recently deteriorated due to systems such as Hurricane Lala and Tropical Storm Moke.

The Washington Post explained that intensifying El Niño conditions are raising Pacific Ocean water temperatures and increasing the frequency of tropical storms.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)