Lester weakens, moves away; flood advisories expire as rain dissipates

Update 11:00 p.m.

Tropical storm Lester weakens as it moves rapidly Northwestward.

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

The center of Tropical Storm Lester was located near latitude 27.9 North, longitude 162.6 West. Lester is moving toward the northwest near 18 mph (30 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue through Monday. Lester is forecast to gradually turn toward the north at a slower forward speed Monday night and Tuesday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts.

Little change in intensity is forecast through Tuesday.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 130 miles (215 km) from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1005 mb (29.68 inches).

Update 5:30 p.m.

A flood advisory for Oahu has expired tonight, and the flood advisory for the Big Island will expire at 5:45 p.m.

Radar and rain gauges showed that the heavy rain, which prompted the advisory, has dissipated.

The National Weather Service said to continue to use caution near rivers and streams as they will remain elevated for the next few hours.

Update 5 p.m.

Tropical Storm Lester is slowly weakening as it continues moving away from the islands.

At 5 p.m., it was located 430 miles north-northwest of Honolulu, and 345 miles north-northwest of Lihue, packing maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.

Lester was moving northwest at 17 mph, and is forecast to gradually turn toward the north and slow down Monday night and Tuesday.

Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles from Lester’s center.

A flood advisory remains in effect for the Big Island and parts of Oahu.

The National Weather Service said at 4:18 p.m. radar over Oahu showed heavy showers over Pearl Harbor, moving west at 10 mph.

Additional showers extend north from Pearl Harbor to Schofield Barracks and are also moving west at 10 mph.

Rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches are possible, the weather service said.

Locations in the advisory include, but are not limited to, Schofield Barracks, Kapolei, Waipahu, Waianae, Mililani, Waialua, Wahiawa, Barbers Point, Aiea, Kunia, Pearl City and Waikele.

The advisory for Oahu is set to expire at 5:30 p.m., but could be extended.

Update 3:30 p.m.

A flood advisory has been issued for parts of Oahu and Hawaii island as moisture brought by former Hurricane Lester lingered around the islands.

The National Weather Service said at 2:32 p.m. radar showed heavy showers near Mililani and moving northwest at 5 mph. Additional showers were located from Aiea to Mokuleia, moving westward at 5 mph.

Rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches are possible, the weather service said.

Locations in the advisory on Oahu include, but are not limited to: Schofield Barracks, Waipahu, Waialua, Wahiawa, Kunia, Pearl City and Waikele.

The advisory was set to expire at 5:30 p.m., but could be extended.

An advisory for the Big Island was in effect until 5:45 p.m. and could also be extended.

At 2:51 p.m., radar indicted heavy rain and nearly stationary thunderstorms upslope of Kona, with rain falling at a rate of 1 to 3 inches per hour.

Heavy showers were also located along upslope sections between Kona and Milolii and across leeward slopes of Mauna Kea, upslope of Waikii.

The advisory included, but was not limited to: Kona, Captain Cook, Waikoloa Village, Kamuela, Honaunau, Puuanahulu, Pohakuloa Training Area, Kainaliu, Kalaoa, Pohakuloa Camp, Honalo and Hawaiian Ocean View.

The weather service warned the public to stay away from streams, drainage ditches and low-lying areas prone to flooding. Rainfall and runoff will also cause dangerous driving conditions from ponding and poor visibility.

Tropical Storm Lester, with winds of 60 mph, is moving away from the state.

Previous coverage

Heavy rains prompted flood advisories on Oahu and Hawaii island even as Tropical Strom Lester moves away from the state.

A band of rain trailing behind Lester was moving over the Big Island this morning and is likely to move over other islands before finally passing Kauai on Monday, National Weather Service forecasters said.

In addition, the humid tropical air over the islands from Lester and Kona winds, combined with daytime heating, could bring afternoon showers. Some of the rain could be local heavy and there is a chance of thunderstorms.

A flood advisory has been issued for Molokai until 4 p.m. after radar images indicated a thunderstorm producing heavy rainfall near Kepuhi moving west at 5 mph.

Locations in the advisory include but are not limited to Kepuhi, Hoolehua, Kualapuu, and Maunaloa.

A high surf warning expired this morning after the dangerous waves generated by Lester on east shores fell below advisory levels. However, surf remained high on north and east shores. On Oahu, waves of 5 to 7 feet on east shores this morning are expected to drop to 4 to 6 feet by Monday. North shore waves of 5 to 8 feet are expected to drop to 3 to 5 feet this afternoon, and 2 to 4 feet Monday.

At 11 a.m., Lester was 335 miles north-northwest of Honolulu and 260 miles north of Lihue. Lester had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and was moving northwest at 17 mph.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles from Lester’s center.

The forecast for today calls for partly sunny to mostly cloudy skies with showers becoming likely by this afternoon.

The southeast winds are also bringing vog over the islands.

Conditions will be muggy with winds coming from the southeast at 10 mph. Highs will be between 84 and 89, but it will feel hotter because of the humidity. Lows tonight are expected to be between 73 and 78 degrees.

Tradewinds should return after this last bit of rain from Lester passes.

“By this time tomorrow, all islands will be under stable, moderate to locally strong trade wind regime. Showers will be present with this flow, favoring the windward and mountain areas. The frequency of the showers will be highest during the nights and mornings. The strength of the trades will be switching between moderate and moderate to locally strong during the new work week,” forecasters said.

What’s left of Lester will turn towards the northeast and be absorbed into other weather systems heading toward the mainland. Lester will no longer be a named storm, but its remnants may bring heavy rain to the Pacific Northwest next weekend.