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Flash flood warnings cover Kauai Maui, Molokai; entire state under flash flood watch

COURTESY PHOTO
                                A view of the landslide that shut down Kuhio Highway on Kauai, as seen from Hanalei.
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COURTESY PHOTO

A view of the landslide that shut down Kuhio Highway on Kauai, as seen from Hanalei.

For the latest updates on Saturday’s weather, click here.

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UPDATE: Saturday, 6:35 a.m.

Kauai is under a flash flood warning until 8:45 a.m. today.

“At 6:22 a.m. radar indicated persistent heavy showers developing over already saturated ground, leading to rapid rises in water levels in streams and rivers, especially along the north and east side of the island,” the National Weather Service said. “Rainfall over the mountains is expected to continue.”

The warning covers the entire island but the weather service said the north and east sides are especially vulnerable to flooding.

Maui and Molokai are also under flash flood warnings, and the Big Island is under a flood advisory this morning. The entire state remains under a flash flood watch through this afternoon.

The weather service has also issued:

>> A wind advisory until 6 p.m. today for Kauai and Niihau, predicting northeast winds 25 to 30 mph with localized gusts over 45 mph;

>> A winter weather advisory for the Big Island Summits until 6 p.m. today, with snow accumulations of up to four inches and wind gusting as high as 65 mph.

>> High surf advisories for north and east shores from Niihau to Molokai, and for north and west shores of Maui until 6 p.m. Sunday. “A new north swell will rapidly build from northwest to southeast down the island chain today and tonight, hold through Sunday, then gradually lower early next week,” the advisory said. Surf will rapidly rise to 15 to 20 feet today along north shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai; to 10 to 14 feet today along east shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu and Molokai; and to 12 to 16 feet this afternoon along north shores of Maui.

6:15 a.m.

The islands of Maui and Molokai are under a flash flood warning this morning, according to the National Weather Service.

The Maui warning is effective until 8:30 a.m. and covers the entire island.

“At 5:14 a.m., radar indicated heavy rain continuing over Maui. The heaviest rainfall is now over the southeast slopes of Haleakala, as well as a new band of showers moving into West Maui, the warning said. “Rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour.”

The weather service reported that streams on the island were running high, especially Oheo Gulch, and that Maui Civil Defense reported several landslides including Highway 30 on the Wailuku side of the tunnel and Kula Highway near mile marker 18.

The Molokai warning is effective until 8:15 a.m.

“At 5:22 a.m., the Kawela Gulch reported a rapid rise in water level and continues to increase,” the weather service said. “Flooding is likely along Kamehameha Highway near the Kamalo Dip and other nearby low water crossings.”

Locations that will experience flash flooding include Kamalo, Kalaupapa National Park, Ualapue, Kawela, Pukoo, Kaunakakai, Halawa Valley and Kualapuu, according to the warning.

Flood advisories have also been issued for Kauai until 7 a.m. and the Big Island until 7:45 a.m.

The entire state remains under a flash flood watch through this afternoon.

Friday, 11:20 p.m.

Maui’s flash flood warning has been extended to 2:30 a.m. Saturday.

Radar tonight indicated heavy rain continuing over west Maui and the southeast slopes of Haleakala between Ulupalakua and Hana at a rate of 2 to 3 inches per hour.

Law enforcement reported the Hana Highway impassable between mile markers 30 and 31.

Additional showers will continue to form and move over the island for the next few hours.

10:20 p.m.

Maui’s flash flood warning remains in effect until 11:30 p.m.

The heaviest rain has been anchored along the southeast slopes of Haleakala from Ulupalakua to Hana, falling at a rate of 2 to 3 inches per hour. Water levels in Oheo Gulch continue to rise, indicating likely flash flooding between Hamoa and Kipahulu.

8:40 p.m.

A flash flood warning for Maui has been issued until 11:30 p.m.

At 8:36 p.m., radar indicated heavy rain falling over the island. The heaviest rain was falling over the southeast slopes of Haleakala, Hana and portions of the West Maui slopes at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour according to the National Weather Service.

7:20 p.m.

Flash flood warnings for Oahu and Kauai expired tonight. But wet weather will remain statewide as a flash flood watch remains through Saturday.

Maui is under a flood advisory until 8:45 tonight. Radar showed heavy rainfall continues over central and west Maui.

Rainfall has moved into the southeastern slopes of Haleakala from Ulupalakua to Hana. Rain rates were 1 to 2 inches in showers rapidly moving toward the northeast.

A flash flood warning for Kauai has been canceled but the island remains under a flash flood watch until 6 p.m. Saturday.

4:35 p.m.

A flash flood warning for Kauai has been extended through 7:45 p.m. today.

4:10 p.m.

A flash flood warning has been issued for Oahu through 7:15 p.m.

At 4:08 p.m., radar showed that a band of heavy rainfall will reach the island shortly from the West, according to the National Weather Service. As the band moves eastward across the island, heavy rainfall will occur over already saturated ground.

This will produce rapid flooding and heavy runoff. The band will take several hours to move East of Oahu.

3:40 p.m.

The National Weather Service has extended the flash flood watch for the entire state through Saturday.

1:40 p.m.

The flash flood warning has been extended for the island of Kauai through 4:45 p.m. today.

Radar at 1:39 p.m. showed heavy rain falling over the island at rates up to 1 inch per hour, according to the National Weather Service. Emergency managers reported multiple road closures from earlier heavy rainfall over the south and west portions of Kauai.

Flooding is already occurring in the Anini area of north Kauai.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include Lihue, Kapaa, Kalaheo, Kekaha, Princeville, Kilauea, North Fork

Wailua Trails, Alakai Swamp Trails, Lawai, Omao, Kokee State Park, Wailua Homesteads, Hanalei, Hanapepe, Wainiha, Na Pali State Park, Koloa, Haena, Waimea and Wailua.

12:50 p.m.

The flash flood advisory for Oahu has been canceled after radar showed heavy rain over the island has diminished.

However, a flash flood watch remains in effect for all islands through 6 a.m. Saturday.

12:10 p.m.

The National Weather Service has extended the flash flood warning for Kauai until 2 p.m. today.

“At 12:07 p.m, rainfall has eased over south Kauai. However, stream and river gauges continued to show high water levels,” the warning said. “Runoff levels will remain high, especially from Lihue to Hanapepe for a few more hours.”

The warning covers Lihue, Kapaa, Kalaheo, Kekaha, Kilauea, North Fork Wailua Trails, Wailua Homesteads, Omao, Lawai, Koloa, Wailua, Poipu, Hanapepe, Anahola, Moloaa, Waimea, Puhi, Wailua River State Park, Hanamaulu and Eleele.

11:40 a.m.

Heavy rain over Central and Windward Oahu has prompted another flood advisory for the island through this afternoon.

Radar at 11:22 a.m. showed heavy rain over Oahu, with the most intense rainfall over Mililani and Kahana at rates up to 1 to 2 inches per hour, the National Weather Service said.

Rainfall will continue to develop over Central and Leeward Oahu over the next several hours before moving northeastward to Windward Oahu.

Locations in the advisory include, but are not limited to, Honolulu, Waiahole, Waikane, Pearl City, Aiea, Kahaluu, Ahuimanu, Halawa, Mililani, Waikele, Moanalua, Salt Lake, Wahiawa, Kaaawa, Waipahu, Wheeler Field, Kunia, Punaluu, Kalihi and Kaneohe.

11:25 a.m.

Heavy rainfall has prompted another flash flood warning for the island of Kauai through this afternoon.

Radar at 11:02 a.m. showed very heavy rainfall across southeast Kauai with the most intense rainfall over the area from Lihue to Kalaheo, according to the National Weather Service. Peak rain rates were measured at up to 2 to 3 inches per hour.

Kauai Emergency Management reported flooding on multiple roads on the south side of the island.

8:55 a.m.

The flood advisory for Oahu has been canceled, however, a flood advisory has been posted for the island of Kauai.

Radar at 8:51 a.m. showed heavy rainfall moving over Kauai from the southwest at rates up to 1 inch per hour, according to the National Weather Service.

A more intense band of rainfall with rain falling at rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour is approaching the island from the west, weather officials said. The band should reach the west side of the island with an hour and move across the island.

Earlier radar images of Oahu showed heavy rain had diminished over the island.

7:30 a.m.

The flash flood warning for the island of Kauai has been canceled.

The heavy rain over the island has ended and flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat, according to the National Weather Service.

However, Kauai, along with the rest of the state, remains under a flash flood watch through 6 a.m. Saturday.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

Kauai is under a flash flood warning, while most of the islands are under a flash flood watch. Oahu is under a flood advisory until 8:30 a.m.

At 5:29 a.m., the National Weather Service’s radar showed heavy rain over east Oahu from the Honolulu Airport to Waikiki to Hawaii Kai, with rainfall at a clip of 1 inch per hour at its heaviest.

The areas include Honolulu, Manoa, Maunawili, Kalihi, Kaneohe, Palolo, Moanalua, Ahuimanu, Kailua, Waimanalo, Salt Lake, Halawa, Kahaluu, Aiea, Kaneohe Marine Base, Waiahole, Hawaii Kai, Pearl City, Nuuanu and Makiki-Tantalus.

The National Weather Service’s radar showed at 5:04 a.m. today that heavy rain over the southeast slopes of Kauai from Waimea to Poipu to Kapaa.

Rain was coming down at 1 to 2 inches an hour.

The Wailua River has risen to a very high level and is continuing to go up.

Flash flooding is occurring or expected to start soon, the weather service said shortly after 5 a.m. today.

Flash flooding will be occurring at Lihue, Kapaa, Kalaheeo, Omao, Lawai, Koloa, Poipu, North Fork, Wailua Trails, Wailua Homesteads, Hanapepe, Wailua, Waimea, Anahola, Puhi, Hanamaulu, Wailua River State Park, Eleele, Kaumakani, Pakala Village and Kealia.

The flash flood warning for Kauai is in effect until at least 8:15 a.m., and may be extended should flooding persist.

All other areas throughout the state are under a flash flood watch until 6 a.m. Saturday.

The Weather Service says that a low located west of Kauai is keeping the atmosphere moist and unstable, while a cold front is approaching, which explains the potential for localized intense rainfall and flash flooding.

People should be prepared for significant flooding from overflowing streams and drainages. Roads may be closed and property damage may occur in urban and low-lying areas due to runoff.

Also, landslides could occur in areas with steep terrain.

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