Flash flood warnings canceled; flood watch remains for Oahu, Kauai County
This composite satellite image taken Saturday at 6:00 a.m. shows remnants of former Hurricane Jimena north of Kauai pulling tropical moisture and rain clouds over the islands as an area of heavy moisture lingers over Kauai.
This weather radar image taken Friday morning shows rains over the Leeward Coast and more showers moving up toward Oahu from the south.
This traffic camera image shows wet roads and heavy traffic on the H-1 freeway near Kaahumanu Street Friday morning.
Rain made driving difficult and slow on the H-1 freeway Friday morning.
Rains Friday morning left heavy ponding on the roads near the intersection of Kaaahi Street and Dillingham Boulevard.
• Lightning may have tripped vehicle sensors, stopping traffic on H-3
• [Photo Gallery] Rain soaks Oahu
Forecasters say the skies over Oahu and Hawaii island will be partly cloudy for much of Saturday, a day after heavy showers brought localized flooding for both islands. Maui and Kauai can expect mostly cloudy skies with occasional showers, forecasters say.
Flash flood warnings for Oahu and Hawaii island were canceled Friday night and a subsequent flood advisory for Oahu was canceled at 5:50 a.m. Saturday morning. However, a flood advisory was again issued for Oahu at 7:41 a.m. after radar showed moderate rain falling over Honolulu and headed toward Wahiawa and Waianae, weather officials said. The advisory was extended until 7:30 p.m.
Areas in the advisory include, but are not limited to, Honolulu, Hauula, Makakilo City, Waikane, Hawaii Kai, Kaneohe and Ewa.
A flood advisory is also in effect for Kauai through 4 p.m.
A flash flood watch remains in effect for Kauai County and Oahu until 6 p.m. Saturday.
“Moisture on the southern fringes of former Tropical Cyclone Jimena will bring the potential for heavy rainfall across the smaller main Hawaiian islands,” the weather service said. “Saturated soils from recent rainfall will increase the risk for flash flooding.”
Kamehameha Highway near Waikane Bridge was reopened late Friday after police blocked off traffic due to water covering the roadway.
The weather service said Windward Oahu streams were close to overflowing before the rains eased.
The storm runoff from the heavy rains prompted the Health Department issued a brown water advisory for Oahu Friday afternoon. Health officials advised the public to avoid flood waters and storm water runoff due to possible cesspool runoff, sewage, dislodged manholes, pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, pathogens, chemicals and flood debris.
Jimena is no longer a tropical depression and its remnants were about 350 miles northwest of Honolulu, slowly drifting west at 8 a.m. Friday, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said.
The heat and humidity will make it seem like the temperature is near 100 degrees in some locations, forecasters said.
"Warm and humid conditions will also continue through the weekend as winds keep backing to a more southeasterly flow,” forecasters said.
There is some relief in sight. Cooling tradewinds should return by the middle of next week, although another weather system could bring more rain this weekend.
