Work crews fight to clear roads as more rain, high surf roll in

Heavy wind and rain kept first responders and city road crews busy Friday, and forecasters said more troublemaking weather could be in store for the islands this weekend.

A downed utility pole reported at about 10:30 p.m. Thursday night prompted police to close Kunia Road in both directions overnight. Northbound lanes were reopened around 8:15 a.m.; southbound lanes reopened just before 9 a.m.

Portions of two northbound lanes and one southbound lane on Kalanianaole Highway, near Castle Medical Center, were also closed overnight due to a fallen tree. Crews responded to the situation around 10:40 p.m. Thursday, and the highway was reopened around 4 a.m.

Meanwhile, a rockslide prompted the closure of Farrington Highway by Makua Caves. The slide occurred around 1 a.m. Friday. Crews were dispatched to clear the debris, and the highway was reopened around 6:40 a.m.

However, just as the rockslide was cleared, a low-hanging utility pole and wires prompted police to close another section of the highway, at Maipalaoa Road in Maili. The highway reopened again at about 12:30 p.m.

Finally, a mudslide resulted in the closure of mauka-bound lanes of Pali Highway at Nuuanu Pali Drive at around 1:45 a.m. The lanes remained closed until all debris was cleared at about 5 p.m.

The Windward side of Oahu took much of the brunt of the storm. In the 24-hour period ending at 5:45 p.m. Friday, more than 3 inches of rain was recorded in the St. Stephens area in Kaneohe. Heavy rainfall was also recorded in Maunawili (2.66 inches) and at the Olomana Fire Station (2.06). Manoa Lyon Arboretum recorded 2.44 inches of rain over the same period.

The National Weather Service predicts scattered and light windward showers through today. However, an upper-level disturbance is expected to approach the state and could bring another round of heavy rain and thunderstorms from Sunday through Tuesday or Wednesday.

Disrupted tradewinds and continued wet weather are expected during the second half of the week, followed by another storm system next weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

A high-surf advisory will be in effect from 6 a.m. today until 6 p.m. Sunday for north- and west-facing shores of Oahu, Kauai, Molokai and Niihau and north-facing shores of Maui and Hawaii island.

According to the NWS, a series of North Pacific low-pressure systems today has generated a combination of swells that will cross state waters from north to northwest. The mixed directions of the swells and overall surf heights (15 to 20 feet along north-facing shores and 8 to 12 feet along west-facing shores) are expected to produce "chaotic and unpredictable" surf conditions, according to the NWS.