High winds helped topple a large tree onto moving traffic in the downtown area and may have contributed to isolated power outages across Oahu on Saturday, but the worst of the weekend’s anticipated extreme weather appears to be yet to come.
An unusually powerful low-pressure system moved south toward the state Saturday and was expected to pass just north of the islands today, bringing with it “destructive surf, locally damaging winds and periods of showers to parts of the state,” according to the National Weather Service.
The weather service said the unsettled weather may linger into the middle of the week.
A high-wind warning is in effect for all islands through midnight. Westerly winds of 20 to 40 miles per hour, with gusts up to 60 mph, are predicted and will be strongest over and downslope from higher terrain as well as in areas where winds are funneled and through valleys.
A high-surf warning remains in effect until 6 a.m. Monday for north and west shores of Kauai, Niihau, Oahu, Molokai and Hawaii island and the north shore of Maui.
Forecasters warn that the same low-pressure system that is producing high-wind conditions will result in “giant disorganized waves,” which in turn could produce coastal flooding in affected areas.
Surf hit 30-plus feet on Kauai on Saturday and is predicted to reach 40 to 60 feet today along the north and west shores of Niihau and Kauai and north shores of Oahu, Molokai and Maui. Surf of up to 40 feet is predicted for the west shores of Oahu and Hawaii island.
On Saturday, winds of 40 miles per hour or greater were recorded at Barking Sands on Kauai, Kaneloa near the southernmost tip of Maui, and Kohala Ranch on Hawaii island.
The large tree fell on a pair of moving cars on Bethel Street in front of Chinatown Gateway Plaza around 10:30 a.m. One of the affected drivers said he was driving with his window down when he heard a rumble and saw the tree swaying back and forth. He tried to accelerate out of its path but was unable to avoid the tree.
The tree blocked both lanes of Bethel Street for several hours, with police diverting traffic to King Street.
No injuries were reported.
Another fallen tree blocked the northbound lane of Waimano Home Road at Noelani Street in Pearl City Saturday afternoon. A contraflow lane was opened in the southbound lanes.
Around 10:50 a.m., a power outage affected 722 Hawaiian Electric Co. customers in downtown Honolulu, Iwilei, Kalihi and Palama. Power was restored shortly after noon.
Outages affecting Barbers Point, Ewa, Honouliuli, Kalaeloa, Kapolei, Ko Olina, Aiea, Pearlridge and Waimalu were reported throughout the day.
In Wahiawa, a swaying utility pole blocked Whitmore Avenue at Uakanikoo Street in the early afternoon, prompting police to reroute traffic to a dirt road.
High surf conditions kept city Ocean Safety personnel busy throughout the day. At Sandy Beach, lifeguards performed seven rescues and took 400 preventive actions, according to officials. At Makapuu Beach, lifeguards took more than 80 preventive actions.
High winds and falling trees prompted the closure of lifeguard towers at Kualoa Beach Park and Nanakuli Beach Park, although lifeguards remained on duty throughout the day.
In preparation for the incoming storm, state and county officials closed several parks, beaches and campgrounds, including Kaena Point State Park and Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline on Oahu.
The state Department of Parks and Recreation suspended camping permits for all 17 Oahu campgrounds effective at 5 p.m. Saturday.
Hawaii County officials announced the closure of all beach parks until further notice; all state parks on the island are to close as of 10 a.m. today.
Kauai County officials closed all north and west beach parks from Kekaha to Anahola until further notice. In addition, the American Red Cross opened a holding center at Kilauea Gym on Saturday night.
All South Maui parks as well as Baldwin and Kanaha beach parks on the island’s north shore are to close today. Hosmer Grove Campground at Haleakala National Park was closed in anticipation of hurricane-force winds, and park officials warned of other possible closures.
Staff writer Tyne Phillips contributed to this report.
