Rains ease, flood warning lifted for Kauai
This photo taken at 9 a.m. shows water levels at the Hanapepe River close to the bottom of the Hanapepe Bridge.
This photo taken Friday shows brown waters offshore of Kalapaki Beach in Nawiliwili Bay on Kauai.
Heavy rains on Kauai eased late on Friday morning after causing school and road closures and a scare for Hanapepe residents.
The rains also prompted county officials to build barriers on Hanapepe Road to protect Hanapepe Town from flooding as river levels nearly overflowed the one-lane bridge into town.
‘Ele’ele Elementary School, Waimea Canyon Middle School, Waimea High School and Kekaha Elementary School closed after classes began.
The state Department of Education closed Hanalei Elementary School before the opening bell because of the weather.
The National Weather Service allowed a flash flood warning to expire at 12:15 a.m. as rains subsided around 11 a.m.
The warning prompted the Department of Land and Natural Resources to close the Kalalau Trail on the north shore, which was reopened at 12:15 p.m.
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Ponding was reported on Kaumualii Highway between mile markers 21 and 22 in Pakala and near Davidsons Beach in Kekaha. Water is also ponding on Kekaha Road between Kala Road and Io Road. Caution signs have been posted, but the roads remained open.
Kauai Civil Defense reported that Puolo Road in Hanapepe was closed because of flooding at 9 a.m., but reopened by 11 a.m.
As much as four inches an hour of rain fell near Anahola at about 4:30 a.m.
The Department of Health also issued a brown water advisory for Kauai because of the danger of infection from contract with storm runoff.
The public is advised to stay out of flood waters and storm water runoff due to possible overflowing cesspools, sewer manholes, pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, pathogens, chemicals, and flood debris, the Health Department said.
Sunny, humid and hazy conditions on Oahu Friday morning were expected to give way to afternoon cloudiness and rain, with a slight chance of thunderstorm.
The chance of rain continues into Friday night, but the weather system responsible for the rain should move north by the morning.
Northeast tradewinds will return Saturday after the weather system passes, which should blow away the vog and humidity of the past week.
