Kauai and Niihau under flash flood watch, rest of the state sunny

The sun should be out this morning for the University of Hawaii graduation ceremony in Manoa. But the same can’t be said for Kauai and Niihau, which remain under a flash flood watch through this afternoon.

Radar showed heavy rain over the Garden Island early this morning.

The National Weather Service says a strong low aloft and abundant moisture in the atmosphere is creating unstable weather conditions and the threat of heavy showers and thunderstorms to Kauai County. 

With the ground saturated from earlier rainfall, the runoff from heavy rains will be higher than normal, increasing the potential for flash flooding and landslides, the weather service said.

Mostly fair weather and light winds are forecast for the rest of the state, except for some windward and mauka showers and the possibility of afternoon showers because of daytime heating.