Red flag warning canceled for all islands
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
A car drives through a sand storm along Honoapiilani Highway today in West Maui.
UPDATE: 4:15 p.m.
The National Weather Service in Honolulu has cancelled the red flag warning for Maui County and Hawaii island.
The warning was canceled around 3:45 p.m., more than two hours earlier than initially scheduled to expire.
The weather service has also canceled the wind advisory for all islands.
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The National Weather Service has canceled the red flag warning for Oahu, but it remains in place for the leeward areas of Maui County and Hawaii island until 6 p.m. today.
“Conditions have improved over Kauai, Niihau, and Oahu due to increasing moisture from a front moving over the western end of the state, so the warning has been cancelled there,” forecasters said in a bulletin this morning.
The red flag warning remains in effect through this afternoon for the leeward areas of Molokai, Maui, Lanai and the Big Island.
The Hawaii Department of Education closed Lahaina’s four public schools as a precaution today.
The warnings are issued when a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and dry fuels can combine to increase the chance of wildfires.
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A wind advisory remains in effect for parts of all islands through 6 p.m. Monday, according to the weather service.
“Strong high pressure building to the north of the islands will drive windy trades through this evening. Winds are expected to increase this afternoon over the western half of the state as an area of stronger winds is ushered in behind a dissipating front,” according to the advisory.
Today’s forecast calls for east winds of 20 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph, and relative humidity at 40%.
“Winds this strong can knock down tree branches, blow away tents and unsecured objects, and make it difficult to drive, especially for high profile vehicles, the advisory says.
The weather service also forecasts increasing showers for Kauai and Oahu through tonight, while Maui County and the Big Island remain dry. “A more typical moderate to locally breezy tradewind pattern will take over Wednesday and Thursday, then restrengthen to breezy by the end of the week,” forecasters said.
