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.

The Miami-based center issued the warning and a hurricane watch for Kauai and Niihau as Lowell was forecast to pass the islands to the west late Monday while traveling north.

Forecasters said rainfall totals of 6-10 inches (15-25 centimeters), with maximum totals of 14 inches (36 centimeters), were possible.