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Tuesday, December 3, 2024 80° Today's Paper


Hawaii News

Heavy rain soaks parts of Oahu, Maui, Big Isle and Lanai

COURTESY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
A composite radar image showed a line of rain over southern Oahu Tuesday afternoon.

National Weather Service forecasters say an area of heavy rain west of Honolulu on Tuesday evening was holding nearly stationary with rain clouds also gathering near Nanakuli and Ewa Beach.

Forecasters noted that the ground is saturated from two days of rain, making flooding more likely.

A flash flood watch for Oahu, Hawaii island, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai and Niihau was extended until 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Heavy rains hit Kauai overnight, as much of the rest of the state began cleaning up from Monday’s thunderstorms and lifeguards warned people to stay out of Waikiki Beach waters following a weather-related sewage spill.

A flash flood warning expired at 4 a.m., but forecasters caution that the tropical moisture brought up by Tropical Depression Kilo remains over the islands, along with the chance of more heavy showers.

Weather officials issued a flood advisory for Oahu at 12:16 p.m. after radar showed an area of heavy rain holding nearly stationary near Mililani Town. The advisory, originally in effect through 3:15 p.m., expired at 9 p.m.

A flood advisory means a specific weather even may become a nuisance. A flash flood watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. 

The forecast for the state calls for mostly cloudy skies with a slight chance of thundershowers and more muggy weather. Forecasters said showers are likely in windward and mauka areas and leeward areas should see scattered showers in the morning and likely rain in the afternoon. Locally heavy rainfall is possible, forecasters said.

Lifeguards started work early Tuesday to warn beach-goers to stay out of the water, following Monday’s 500,000 gallon sewage spill, which closed beaches from Waikiki to Kewalo Basin. Lifeguards in Waikiki began patrolling beaches at 7 a.m., an Ocean Safety spokeswoman said.

The state Health Department issued a brown water advisory for all islands because of storm water runoff entering coastal waters. 

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 associated flood debris. 

Kilo and Loke, which has strengthened into a hurricane, remained in the Central Pacific far to the west of the main Hawaiian Islands and are threatening the Northwest Hawaiian Islands.

Rainfall records were smashed on three islands Monday as thunderstorms struck heavy and hard early in the morning on Oahu, Kauai and Maui.

There was 3.53 inches of rain at the Honolulu Airport, breaking the old record of 0.46 inch for the date, set in 1966. Lihue’s airpot saw 3.03 inches of rain, breaking its record of 0.26 inch set in 1970. And Kahului experienced 1.46 inches, breaking a record of 0.13 inch set in 1957.

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