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High surf advisory in effect for all islands; most of state under flood watch

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COURTESY NOAA

Update 7:10 p.m.

Most islands are under flash flood watch until Sunday afternoon, with an earlier flash flood advisory for Maui having expired.

The National Weather Service indicated a flood watch is in effect into Sunday for Oahu, Maui, Hawaii island, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe.

A high surf advisory remains for the south shores of all islands until 6 a.m. Sunday.

Update 4:10 p.m.

A high surf advisory for the south shores of all islands was extended to 6 a.m. Sunday, according to the National Weather Service, and a flash flood advisory for Maui was extended until 6:30 p.m. today.

Oahu, Maui, Hawaii island, Lanai and Kahoolawe remain under flash flood watch until Sunday afternoon.

Surf along the islands’ south shores is expected to reach 5 to 8 feet through Sunday morning.

For Big Island summits, a winter storm warning is in effect until 6 p.m. Sunday and a high wind warning until 6 a.m. Monday. Officials say 6 inches of snow and winds of 55-70 mph — with gusts up to 80 mph — are possible on the upper slopes and summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.

Update 12:48 p.m.

A flash flood advisory for the island of Maui was extended until 3:30 p.m. today. A flash flood watch is still in effect for Oahu, Kahoolawe, Lanai, Molokai and the Big Island until Sunday afternoon.

Radar at 12:25 p.m. showed light to moderate rain moving over southwest Maui with heavier showers concentrated over south Maui, weather officials said.

Maui police closed South Kihei Road between Kaonoulu Road and Maui Lu due to water on the roadway and runoff remains high from earlier rainfall.

Update 10:40 a.m.

The National Weather Service extended the flood advisory for the entire island of Maui until 12:30 p.m. today. Most of the state is still under flash flood watch until Sunday afternoon.

Doppler radar at 9:40 a.m. showed moderate to heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms near Maui with most of the rainfall continuing to affect from Olowalu to Kihei, Makena and Kaupo.

Weather officials also issued a high wind warning for the summits on the Big Island until 6 a.m. Monday.

Southwest winds have increased to between 55 and 70 mph with gusts up to 80 mph, officials said.

Dangerously strong winds will make driving dangerous and travel to summit areas could be delayed until the winds die down.

Previous coverage

A flash flood watch for Kauai was canceled but the rest of the state remains under flood watch through tomorrow afternoon. Maui County is also under a flash flood advisory until 9:45 a.m. today.

National Weather Service officials said a front will stall over the central islands at the same time as a potent low aloft moves over the western end of the state with Maui County receiving the heaviest rain.

Doppler radar at 6:55 a.m. showed heavy rain falling at a rate of 2 inches an hour near Kahului and moving east at 5 to 10 mph.

Locations in the advisory include but aren’t limited to Kahului, Kihei, Lahaina, Puunene, Haliimaile, Waikapu, Paia, Makawao, Wailuku, Olowalu and Haiku-Pauwela.

Officials are urging the public to take all safety precautions.

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