Islands under threat of heavy rain

All islands are under a flash flood watch from today through late tomorrow night, the National Weather Service said last night.

Kauai and Niihau are under the watch starting this morning, followed by the other islands in the evening.

The weather service said potentially dangerous weather will start to develop today. Unstable conditions ahead of an approaching cold front will reach Kauai today, bringing the threat of flooding rainfall. The threat of heavy rain and flooding will spread to the remainder of the state tonight and will persist through at least tomorrow night, the weather service said.

The stormy conditions will leave the islands before the Honolulu Marathon Sunday morning, forecasters said. Runners can expect normal tradewind weather for the event, but should expect some clouds and showers.

A flash flood watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding, and the public should pay attention to the latest forecasts, the weather service said.

Mountain summits on the Big Island may see a mixture of snow and rain as early as tonight and last through Saturday. Precipitation may be heavy at times.

Mauna Kea telescope suffers delay

The University of Hawaii expects to delay by about two years the launch of a new asteroid-hunting telescope it plans to build at Mauna Kea’s summit.

The school’s Institute for Astronomy plans to build the Pan-STARRS telescope on the site of the university’s existing 2.2-meter telescope after demolishing the older facility.

Pan-STARRS is shorthand for Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System. The telescope will scan the sky for asteroids as well as phenomena such as supernova, or exploding stars.

University of Hawaii astronomer and Pan-STARRS principal investigator Nick Kaiser said yesterday the project was delayed after mechanical problems pushed back completion of a prototype built at Haleakala on Maui.

Trash facility to be closed for repairs

The refuse transfer station in Hanalei, Kauai, will be closed for repairs from Monday to Dec. 23.

Loose mixed waste will not be accepted at the facility, but household waste in garbage bags will be taken, according to a Kauai County news release.

All recycling services will also continue at the facility.

For more information, call the Solid Waste Division at 241-4837.

Kauai County officials also said the Kapaa and Waimea public swimming pools will be closed on Tuesday afternoon to allow lifeguards to attend an islandwide meeting.

Both pools will be open to the public that morning from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.

For more information, go to www.kauai.gov or call the Kapaa swimming pool office at 822-3842 or the Waimea swimming pool office at 338-1271.