Top News| Weather

By Star-Advertiser staff

Posted March 01, 2017

February 27, 2017

Updated March 2, 2017 5:05am

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM

A pedestrian walked in the rain this morning on South School Street near Kalihi.

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM

Rain poured down on a homeless woman and her belongings this morning at the intersection of South School and Lusitana streets.

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM

Steady rain soaked Honolulu this morning.

COURTESY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

A composite radar image showed areas of heavy rain over Oahu and Kauai this morning.

MAUNA KEA WEATHER CENTER

The view Tuesday morning from the webcam aimed north-northeast toward the Keck Telescope.

Update: Thursday 4:30 a.m.

Most weather advisories and watches have expired or been canceled.

The lone advisory remaining is a small craft advisory for coastal waters off Oahu and Kauai through noon today.

Forecasters expect southerly winds of 17 to 28 mph and seas of 6 to 9 feet in affected areas.

Update: 10:10 p.m.

A storm system that dumped rain throughout the islands for two days was slowly moving away from the state but the threat of flooding remained late tonight.

A flash flood watch was still in effect late tonight from Oahu to the Big Island, with National Weather Service forecasters in Honolulu saying that the saturated ground and higher stream and river levels means that lingering showers could still cause flooding even if the rainfall accumulation is not high.

Earlier flood advisories for Oahu and Maui, however, have expired.

The forecast calls for more humid weather with the possibility of spotty heavy rainfall Thursday; mostly sunny, but hazy skies Friday; and a cold front bringing an increased chance of rain over the northern half of the state this weekend, the weather service said.

Heavy rain caused road closures and some flooding throughout the state over the last two days.

Over the 24 hours ending 9 p.m. Wednesday, about 5 inches of rain fell in Kahuku on Oahu and on Kauais Mount Waialeale. More than 3.6 inches of rain fell at Honolulu Airport, according to the weather service.

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Heavy rain continued falling over Maui tonight, while downpours over Oahu have diminished, the National Weather Service said.

At 6:32 p.m., radar indicated moderate to heavy showers moving over Maui from the south, mainly impacting the area from Napili to Lahaina to Kihei, the weather service said. Lighter showers were spreading to windward areas.

One to two inches of rain per hour can be expected.

Portions of South Kihei Road were closed due to ponding on the roadway.

The weather service extended the flood advisory for Maui to 9:45 p.m. A flood advisory for Oahu remained in effect until 8:15 p.m.

On Oahu, light to moderate showers continued to move in from the south.

The weather service said ponding could be expected on roadways, especially in town, as showers moved ashore from Honolulu to Hawaii Kai.

Locations included, but not limited to, in the advisory for Oahu were: Pearl City, Moanalua, Honolulu, Hawaii Kai, Salt Lake, Kalihi, Halawa, and Waimalu.

The rest of the islands east of Kauai remained under a flash flood watch through late tonight. The watch means conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding.

Update: 5:40 p.m.

Heavy rain again moved over Oahu this evening, placing most of the island back under a flood advisory until 8:15 p.m.

At 5:17 p.m., radar indicated moderate to heavy showers moving over Oahu from the south, affecting urban Honolulu, and spreading over the Koolau and affecting windward communities from Kaneohe to Kahaluu, the National Weather Service advisory said. Rain was falling at a rate of 2 inches an hour. The advisory includes, but is not limited to, Honolulu, Kalihi, Nuuanu, Maunawili, Kailua, Waikane, Salt Lake, Kaneohe, Waiahole, Moanalua, and Halawa.

Most of the state, from Oahu to the Big Island, is also under a flash flood watch through tonight.

Update: 3:45 p.m.

All islands except Kauai and Niihau remain under a flash flood watch until late tonight, forecasters said.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu said the storm system that has been dumping rain across the state since Tuesday will lift away to the north tonight resulting in heavy rain and thunderstorms with the potential to produce flash flooding. Maui County will have the highest chance with Oahu and the Big Island more of a periphery flash flood threat.

Kauai and Niihau were removed from the watch by mid-afternoon.

But a flood advisory is in effect for the Valley Isle until 6:45 p.m. At 3:28 p.m., radar indicated moderate to heavy rainfall over the south-facing slopes of Maui from Kaupo to Maalaea. Another area of rainfall was headed toward Maui from the south and is expected to reach the island within the next hour, forecasters said. The advisory includes, but is not limited to, Kahului, Kihei, Lahaina, Kaanapali, Waikapu, Maalaea, Honokohau, Wailea, Puunene, Kula, Waiehu and Pukalani.

The weather service forecast for the rest of the week calls for more humid weather with the possibility of spotty heavy rainfall Thursday; mostly sunny, but hazy skies Friday; and a cold front bringing an increased chance of rain over the northern half of the state this weekend.

Update: 1:45 p.m.

Maui County remains under severe thunderstorm watch until 4 p.m. today, according to the National Weather Service.

A severe thunderstorm warning for Molokai was canceled at 12:45 p.m.

A flash flood watch is in effect for all islands through late tonight.

Update: 12:15 p.m.

The National Weather Service has posted a severe thunderstorm warning for Molokai.

At 12:06 p.m., radar indicated a severe thunderstorm 12 miles southwest of Kaunakakai, moving north at 25 mph. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds up to 60 mph, the warning said.

Severe thunderstorms produce damaging winds, destructive hail, deadly lightning and very heavy rain.

The warning is scheduled through 12:45 p.m. today.

The severe thunderstorm watch for Maui County and the coastal waters from Molokai to just off Hawaii island has been extended through 4 p.m. today.

A flood advisory has been issued for Lanai through 2:30 p.m.

The severe thunderstorm watch for the Kaiwi Channel has been canceled.

Update: 11:30 a.m.

Heavy rains looming just off Lanai and Kahoolawe prompted the National Weather Service to issue a special weather statement for those islands.

At 11:30 a.m., radar indicated heavy downpours with gusty winds were located along a line extending from 10 miles west of Lanai to 20 miles southwest of Makena. Movement was northeast at 35 mph, the statement said.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph, very heavy rain, and maybe a rumble or two of thunder can be expected as this line comes across those islands between 11:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Update: 10:30 a.m.

Weather officials have canceled the flash flood warning for Oahu.

Weather radar showed that heavy rain has ended over Oahu and runoff has receded, the National Weather Service said in a statement.

A flash flood watch remains in effect for Honolulu through tonight.

Update: 10:15 a.m.

The National Weather Service has canceled the severe thunderstorm watch for Oahu and surrounding waters.

Update: 9:30 a.m.

Strong thunderstorms approaching West Molokai from the southwest have prompted weather officials to issue a special weather statement for the Friendly Isle.

At 9:24 a.m., radar indicated strong thunderstorms located over the Kaiwi Channel, moving northeast at 40 mph, the statement said.

Forecasters expect torrential rainfall and gusty winds for affected areas.

Locations in the bulletin include, but are not limited to, Kepuhi, Hoolehua, Kualapuu, Maunaloa, Kaunakakai and Molokai Airport.

A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect through noon for the state.

The flash flood warning for Kauai has been canceled. However, Kuhio Highway remains closed at the Hanalei Bridge as the Hanalei River water level has not yet receded to a safe point.

A flash flood watch remains in effect for Kauai County through tonight.

Update: 8:15 a.m.

Despite easing rains, an area of rainfall approaching combined with saturated ground has prompted weather officials to extend the flash flood warning for Oahu to 11 a.m.

At 7:44 a.m., radar data, rain gages, and spotter reports showed that rainfall has eased over most of Oahu for now. However, an area of heavy rainfall is approaching the island from the south. This rainfall is expected to produce rapid runoff on saturated ground and urban flooding, the warning said.

Update: 6:50 a.m.

Strong thunderstorms around the islands have prompted weather officials to issue a severe thunderstorm watch for the waters around Oahu and Maui County.

At 6:47 a.m., radar indicated strong thunderstorms capable of producing winds 46 mph or greater. These storms were located over the leeward Oahu waters, moving northeast at 28 mph toward the Kaiwi channel and windward waters, the warning said.

Areas covered under the warning include the Kaiwi Channel, Kauai Channel, Maui County windward and leeward waters, and Oahu windward and leeward waters.

Mariners are advised to expect gusty winds, high waves, lightning and heavy rains in affected areas.

The weather service also said that radar showed more heavy rain sitting just off the Waianae coast and south shore, moving north at a rate of 15 to 20 m.p.h. Flash flooding can occur when the rain moves on shore, according to the weather service.

Update: 4:45 a.m.

The flash flood warning for Oahu has been extended through 8 a.m. today, according to the National Weather Service.

At 4:26 a.m., radar indicated heavy rain has temporarily eased across Oahu. However, radar shows more heavy rain located just off the Waianae coast and south shore. These cells are moving north at 15 to 20 mph. Flash flooding can occur when they move ashore, the warning said.

Police closed Kamehameha Highway in both directions in front of Turtle Bay around 4:15 a.m. due to roadway flooding.

Locations in the warning include, but are not limited to, Honolulu, Maunawili, Kailua, Waikane, Mililani, Waialua, Hawaii Kai, Salt Lake, Kaneohe, Waiahole, Moanalua and Halawa.

The flash flood warning for Kauai has been extended through 6:45 a.m. today.

Radar shows an extensive area of moderate to heavy rain that will be affecting the island for about the next two hours. Some of the streams especially on the north and east side of the island are swollen and running high. And with a rainfall rate of 2 inches an hour, there is a high potential for flash flooding, the warning said.

Locations in the warning include, but are not limited to, Lihue, Kapaa, Kalaheo, Kekaha, Princeville, Kilauea, Wailua Homesteads, Barking Sands, Moloaa, Anahola, Kokee State Park and Mana.

The summits of Hawaii island, blanketed by snow on Tuesday, are now under a blizzard warning.

An approaching upper-level trough will pass from west to east across the islands through tonight. Heavy snow showers, strong winds and poor visibilities are expected at the Big Island summits, with a chance for thunderstorms as well, the warning said.

The warning applies to summits above 11,000 feet and is in effect through 6 a.m. Thursday.

Forecasters expect snowfall of 6 to 10 inches and southwesterly winds of 45 to 55 mph, with gusts to 65 mph.

Update: 1:45 a.m.

The National Weather Service has extended a flash flood warning for Oahu until 5 a.m. today as a persistent storm system continues to dump rain throughout the state.

At 1:25 a.m, radar indicated much of the heavy rain has abated across the warning area. However, the ground is saturated from the heavy rain in the past few hours and any additional heavy rain will easily lead to flash flooding. Some of the rivers are still swollen and running high as well, the warning said.

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