Downed trees shut Kalihi and Pali roads

Fallen trees in Kalihi and the Windward side delayed Oahu motorists and sent city road crews scrambling to clean up the mess Monday.

Police closed roads along Likelike Highway and Nalani­eha Street in Kalihi at 4:16 a.m. due to a downed tree. The roads were reopened shortly before 5 a.m.

Downed trees also prompted the closure of town-bound lanes on Pali Highway from Kame­ha­meha Highway.

The closure was announced at 10:42 a.m. Crews worked through the day and early evening to remove the trees. At press time, crews had not finished the work.

The National Weather Service predicts that clouds and light showers originating from a low-pressure system to the north will decrease Tuesday and Wednesday.

Light to moderate east and southeasterly winds will prevail after midweek, and light to moderate northeast trades are expected to return early next week.

In the meantime the weather service issued a flash flood watch for Kauai and Nii­hau effective until 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Kauai bore the brunt of high wind and heavy rain over the weekend, prompting police to close Weli­weli Road at the Ala Kino­iki junction in Koloa on Sunday due to flooding.

Kuhio Highway near the Hana­lei Bridge also experienced flooding, according to Kauai officials.

A winter weather advisory is also in effect until 6 a.m. Tuesday for the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on Hawaii island, which could see up to 3 inches of snow and sleet with wind gusts of up to 35 mph.

Local road reports showed icy conditions but not much snow accumulation Monday, the weather service reported.