The moist air mass lingering over the islands brought continued showers over Oahu and Hawaii island on Sunday while the return of cooling tradewinds delivered a welcome respite from weeks of high heat and humidity.
The National Weather Service lifted a flash-flood watch for Oahu and Kauai Sunday morning but Hawaii island remained under a flood advisory for most of the day due to heavy rain over Kailua-Kona. Weather radar indicated rain falling at a rate of up to 2 inches per hour.
Other affected areas included Captain Cook, Kamuela, Honaunau, Honaunau-Hopoopoo, Puuanahulu and Kalaoa.
Strengthening winds prevented showers from remaining stationary, except in the leeward areas where winds were blocked.
An active area of heavy showers also moved west-northwest over waters south of Oahu and Maui County.
In the 24-hour period ending 5 p.m. Sunday, gauges on Maui recorded 3.15 inches of rain at Kaupo Gap, 2.20 inches in Kepuni and 1.74 inches in Ulupalakua.
In a 12-hour window also ending at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oahu gauges recorded 3.46 inches of rain in Poamoho, 1.61 in the Oahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge and 1.51 inches in Moanalua.
Forecasters predict that a slightly drier and more stable air mass developing far north of the state will move over the islands on Monday, with showers focused more along windward slopes.
Overall, the atmosphere is expected to stabilize over the coming week, resulting in less intense rain.
However, relief from warm, muggy conditions is unlikely to last as ocean temperatures remain about 3 degrees higher than normal and tradewinds are expected to funnel in clouds and showers, according to the weather service.
Long-range models depict a broad disturbance developing west of the islands. The main impact to the state will be winds veering to the east-southeast over the weekend and drawing deeper tropical moisture toward the state from that direction.
Meanwhile, a small-craft advisory remains in effect for Alenuihaha Channel and the leeward and southeast waters of Hawaii island through 6 a.m. Monday. Forecasters predicted easterly winds of up to 25 knots with seas of 9 feet to 11 feet.
