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More snow expected for Haleakala and Big Isle summits

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COURTESY PHOTO

Snow was seen on Haleakala on Feb. 11.

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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

Pedestrians cross Waialae Avenue under a sudden downpour today in Kaimuki.

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ED LYNCH / ELYNCH@STARADVERTISER.COM

Rainy weather and choppy surf left Sandy Beach nearly empty Thursday morning.

UPDATE: 4:45 a.m.

A winter weather advisory is in effect for Haleakala on Maui and the summits Hawaii island.

Snow is falling in affected areas with expected accumulations of 2 for 4 inches for Hawaii island and 1 inch for Haleakala, according to the NWS.

An earlier winter storm warning has been canceled.

A winter weather advisory for snow means periods of snow will cause travel difficulties.

An earlier flash flood watch for the Hawaiian Islands has also been canceled.

9:30 p.m.

Expect continued periods of showers with isolated thunderstorms through Sunday.

All islands remain under a flash flood watch.

7:20 p.m.

A flood advisory is in effect for Hawaii island until 9:15 pm.

“At 6:15 p.m., radar indicated persistent downpours from near Hawi, along the Hamakua Coast down to Hilo, and extending south into the Puna District,” the National Weather Service reported.

Locations in the advisory include Hilo, Kailua-Kona, Paauilo, Waipio Valley, Orchidlands Estates, Kukuihaele, Hawi, Pepeekeo, Keaau, Kamuela, Kawaihae and Honokaa.

4:30 p.m.

The flood warning for Maui County has been extended until 7:30 p.m.

“At 4:13 p.m., radar indicated heavy rain continuing over the slopes of the West Maui Mountains and windward slopes of Haleakala from Paia to Hana to Kipahulu,” the National Weather Service reported.

Locations in the warning include Kahului, Honokohau, Lahaina, Haliimaile, Paia, Makawao, Wailuku, Olowalu, Waihee, Kaanapali, Pukalani, Hana, and Kipahulu.

Stream and river gages along the windward slopes of Maui are still running high. Heavy rainfall is expected to continue through this evening with isolated thunderstorms across the islands.

All islands remain under a flash flood watch, which is in effect through early Friday morning.

1:51 p.m.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a flash flood warning for Maui County.

The warning replaces a flood advisory that was in effect for the island of Maui. The warning expires at 4:30 p.m., but may be extended if heavy rain persists.

At 1:35 p.m., the radar showed heavy rain over the slopes of the West Maui mountains. Heavy rain showers were also along the windward slopes of Haleakala from Paia to Hana, and from Hana to Kipahulu. Showers are expected to continue through this afternoon.

Locations include, but are not limited to Kahului, Honokohau, Lahaina, Haliimaile, Paia, Makawao, Wailuku, Olowalu, Waihee, Kaanapali, Pukalani, Hana and Kipahulu.

“A flash flood warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring in streams, roads, and low lying areas. Move to higher ground now,” the warning said. “Do not cross fast flowing water in your vehicle, or on foot. Turn around, don’t drown.”

12:20 p.m.

Wet, relatively cold weather continues to chill the islands as Oahu and Hawaii island are put under flood advisories and other islands are having their flood advisories extended.

The flood advisory for Oahu is in effect through 3 p.m.

Radar at 12:07 p.m. showed heavy rain over northern Oahu, extending from Hauula to Makua, the NWS said. Rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour.

Locations in the advisory include, but are not limited to, Laie, Kahuku, Waialua, Haleiwa, Waikane and Punaluu.

The flood advisory for Hawaii island is in effect through 2:45 p.m. with radar showing rain falling at a rate of 2 to 3 inches per hour over the windward side of the island, from Hawaiian Paradise Park to Leilani Estates.

The islands of Maui, Molokai and Kauai have had their advisories extended to 3 p.m.. 1:30 p.m. and 2:15 p.m., respectively.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

Widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms are expected across the islands on this Valentine’s Day, and likely to last through the weekend, according to weather forecasters.

A flash flood watch remains in effect statewide through early Friday morning.

Additionally, flood advisories are in effect for the islands of Maui, Molokai and Kauai through noon, 1:30 p.m. and 2:15 p.m., respectively. Radar showed heavy rain moving over the affected islands with thunderstorms also detected over Kauai.

A slow-moving, upper-level low drifting over the Hawaiian isles from the north today brings cool, wet weather through the weekend, forecasters said. A combination of cold air aloft, strong surface winds and upper-level troughs rotating around a “Kona low” that developed Thursday will produce frequent showers along windward slopes and scattered showers over leeward areas, which can be heavy at times, with scattered thunderstorms.

Temperatures mid-morning today hovered in the low- to mid-60s for most of Oahu, including Waikiki, Kakaako, Mililani, the North Shore, and leeward and windward sides. Temperatures overnight are expected to dip down to lows of 57 to 65 degrees on Oahu’s South Shore, 59 to 66 on the Waianae coast, 56 to 62 in central Oahu, and 61 to 67 on the windward side, including Kailua, Kaneohe and Waimanalo.

A high surf warning also remains in effect for the east-facing shores of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and the Big Island, and a high surf advisory for the north-facing shores of those isles, through 6 p.m. today, but may need to be extended through Friday afternoon if surf remains above height thresholds.

Surf is expected to reach 10 to 15 feet along exposed, east-facing shores through this afternoon due to a short-period, north-northeast swell this afternoon.

Ocean water can occasionally sweep across portions of beaches. Expect strong, breaking waves, rip currents and dangerous currents, which make entering the water very dangerous. Anyone entering the water could face significant injury or death.

The summit district at Haleakala National Park, meanwhile, will not be available for sunrise viewings, and will remain closed through Friday due to continued snow, ice, and cold temperatures which have resulted in extremely dangerous driving conditions, officials said. Rangers are enforcing the park closure at the 6,500-foot elevation Summit District entrance.

A winter storm warning for the summits of Haleakala, as well as Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island, remains in effect, through 6 p.m. today.

Weather officials said periods of snow will continue, along with very cold conditions at the summits. An additional accumulation of up to six inches of snow is possible by this evening, they said. The wintry weather will likely persist on Big Island summits through Friday afternoon.

“We look forward to welcoming visitors back up here when the weather warms and conditions are safe,” said superintendent Natalie Gates in a news release.

Updates are available at nps.gov/hale or 572-4400.

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