Brown water advisory issued; but rain has mostly passed

The state Health Department has issued a Brown Water Advisory for Kauai due to runoff from heavy showers.

The public is advised to stay out of flood waters and storm water runoff due to possible overflowing cesspools, pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, chemicals, and associated flood debris. People should also stay out of  coastal waters that are turbid and brown.

Nearly eight inches of rain fell on Mt. Waialeale in the 24-hour period ending at 8:45 a.m.  The Kilohana rain gauge near Hanalei recorded 3.3 inches of rain. About one to two inches of rain fell overnight around Lihue on the south side of the island.

Tom Birchard, lead forecaster for the National Weather Service, said the south and southeast sides of Kauai experienced heavy showers early this morning.

Birchard said water levels on the Wailua River rose quickly, prompting a flash flood warning from 4:50 a.m. to 6:45 a.m. But no major flood was reported.

The Kauai rain was probably the last significant rainfall from a weather system that moved over the islands, Birchard said.

There may be heavier than usual trade wind showers tonight, he said.

But, Birchard said ,”it’s looking like a pretty nice weekend.”