Lowell intensified into a hurricane early today southeast of Hawaii and is forecast to rapidly strengthen into a major Category 3 storm by Wednesday night as it tracks south of the island chain, weather officials said.

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At 5 a.m., Hurricane Lowell was about 575 miles southeast of Hilo, packing maximum sustained winds of 80 mph and moving west-northwest at 12 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

Hurricane-force winds of 74 mph or more extend outward up to 15 miles from Lowell’s center, while tropical storm-force winds of 39 mph or more reach up to 90 miles.

Forecasters said that “rapid strengthening is forecast during the next day or two, and Lowell is expected to become a major hurricane by Wednesday night.”

The storm’s core is projected to pass a little over 300 miles south of the Big Island between Wednesday night and Thursday, with maximum sustained winds peaking around 125 mph.

Even though the center of the storm is forecast to stay far out at sea, the difference in air pressure between the storm and a weather system to the north will cause strong winds across the islands, weather officials said.

National Weather Service forecasters in Honolulu said tradewinds could become strong and gusty starting Wednesday afternoon through Friday, with local wind gusts exceeding 50 mph.

“Swells generated by Lowell are likely to affect portions of the Hawaiian Islands beginning on Wednesday,” forecasters said, noting the swells will cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along south and east shores.

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Over the weekend, the forecast becomes less certain because a high-altitude disturbance north of Hawaii could slow Lowell down and push it toward the northwest.

Forecasters are also tracking two other tropical systems in the Eastern Pacific.

Hurricane Karina was centered about 1,280 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California and moving west at 12 mph as of 5 a.m. Karina remains a Category 4 hurricane with 140 mph winds. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from Karina’s center and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles.

The system is expected to steadily weaken over cooler waters as it moves toward the Central Pacific, potentially reaching about 600 miles east of the Big Island by Saturday, weather officials said.

A third cyclone, Tropical Storm Marie, also formed today off the coast of Mexico. Marie was about 400 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, moving northwest at 9 mph with 45 mph winds at 4 a.m.

Marie is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Wednesday night as it moves over warm waters in the East Pacific, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Officials advise Hawaii residents and marine interests to monitor forecast updates throughout the week.

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