Isles under flash flood warning ahead of Wali remnants

The state is under a flash flood watch through 6 p.m. Monday as the remnants of Tropical Storm Wali bear down on the islands with the threat of heavy rain.

The flash flood watch is in effect for all main Hawaiian Islands, but there was little evidence of impending squalls on Saturday, even in Hawaii island, which will be the first to be hit.

The National Weather Service said deep tropical moisture moving over the smaller islands from the southeast will bring “locally heavy rain and the chance of thunderstorms,” adding, “Locally heavy rain is expected to persist through Monday, and with it the chance of flooding.”

The weather service further warned, “Although rainfall totals will likely be highest over windward and mauka areas, the threat for flooding exists over all parts of the islands.”

It does not have to be raining heavily in the vicinity for flash flooding to occur, the agency said, adding that campers and hikers should avoid streams and low-lying areas.

A more stable tradewind weather pattern is expected to return by the middle of the week.