Widespread light to moderate rain covered most of the Hawaiian isles today, but forecasters said a drying trend is expected tonight into Thursday.

National Weather Service forecasters said to expect showers over the eastern half of the state through Wednesday. Drier weather is forecast to move from west to east starting later today, they said.

Maui County officials have closed Baldwin Beach Park due to flooding and muddy conditions at its access road, parking lot and pavilion. Although parks staff began removing the mud and debris on Monday, the work was postponed due to lightning and heavy rains. Lahaina Aquatic Center is also closed today due to heavy rain that prevents lifeguards from seeing the bottom of the pool.

A flash flood watch for the Big Island is in effect through 6 a.m. Wednesday, with the rain expected to move east of the island Wednesday. A watch for Maui County has been canceled.

A high surf advisory is in effect for the eastern shores of the Big Island and Maui through 6 p.m. Thursday. Surf of 6 to 9 feet is expected today, peaking at 8 to 12 feet into Wednesday night, then gradually declining through the weekend, according to the weather service.

More snow is falling on Big Island summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, said forecasters, who issued a winter storm warning through 6 a.m. Wednesday. Snow is expected to fall at the 12,000-foot elevation level of the Big Island summits, with 1 to 2 inches of snow expected, they said.

A wind advisory has also been issued for Big Island summits, with south winds of 40 to 50 mph, and gusts up to 60 mph, through 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Forecasters said moisture may linger near the Big Island into Friday, but light trade winds will prevail statewide by the weekend, with limited windward showers possible.