Flossie continues to weaken but brings threat of heavy rainfall and dangerous surf

UPDATE: 11 p.m.

Tropical Depression Flossie continues to weaken on its approach to the state but will bring dangerous surf and heavy rainfall on Monday.

Flossie, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph, is 250 miles east of Hilo and 320 miles east-southeast of Hana. Moisture associated with Flossie will spread over portions of the state on Monday, bringing the potential for heavy rainfall, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Total rainfall amounts of 1 to 4 inches are expected, with localized higher amounts, as the system moves across the state Monday through Tuesday. A flash flood watch is in effect for Maui and the Big Island for Monday.

Swells generated by Flossie will continue to affect portions of the state during the next day or two, producing dangerous surf conditions along east- and southeast-facing shores.

Flossie is moving toward the west-northwest near 15 mph and this general motion is expected to continue tonight with a turn toward the northwest and a slight decrease in forward speed Monday through Tuesday.

Weakening is forecast during the next couple days, with Flossie is expected to become a post-tropical remnant low Monday or Monday night and dissipating on Tuesday.

Also this evening, a flash flood warning for Kauai expired.

7 p.m.

A flash flood warning is in effect until 10 p.m. today for Kauai.

Radar this evening indicated heavy rain near Kilauea. Rain was falling at a rate of 2 to 4 inches per hour. Flash flooding is expected to begin shortly.

5 p.m.

Flossie weakened to a tropical depression this afternoon as it moves closer to Hawaii with the threat of dangerous surf and heavy rainfall.

Flossie, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph, is 350 miles east of Hilo and 425 miles east of Hana. Moisture associated with Flossie will spread over portions of the state on Monday, bringing the potential for heavy rainfall, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Total rainfall amounts of 1 to 4 inches are expected, with localized higher amounts.

The current forecast track has a weakening Flossie moving near or over the main islands Monday and Tuesday. A flash flood watch is in effect for Maui and the Big Island for Monday.

Swells generated by Flossie will affect portions of the state during the next couple of days, producing dangerous surf conditions through late Monday mainly along east- and southeast-facing shores. A high-surf warning remains in effect for east-facing shores of Maui and the Big Island with surf 10 to 15 feet.

Flossie is moving toward the west near 13 mph and this general motion is expected to continue into early Monday, with a turn toward the west-northwest on late Monday and Tuesday. Weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours and the system is expected to weaken to a post-tropical remnant low Monday n ight.

Erick, located about 740 miles west of Honolulu, weakened to a remnant low as it continued moving away from the state.

Gil, located 1,255 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, also weakened to a remnant low this afternoon.

3:45 p.m.

A flash flood watch is in effect for Maui and the Big Island from Monday morning through Monday night. Moisture associated with Flossie, along with an upper level trough just northwest of the state, will make for heavy rainfall and possible flooding, according to the National Weather Service.

As the moisture moves westward, the flash flood watch may expand to other islands.

A flash flood watch means that conditions are favorable for flash flooding.

2:45 p.m.

A flash flood warning issued for Kauai earlier this afternoon has expired.

1:45 p.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for Kauai, due to heavy rains currently falling over the island.

A flash flood warning means flash flooding is imminent or occurring in streams, roads and low-lying areas. Do not cross fast-flowing or rising water in your vehicle or on foot.

No road closures have been reported at this time, but ponding, low visibility and other hazardous driving conditions are expected.

The warning may be extended, dropped or modified as conditions develop.

Kauai residents looking for updates on road conditions and closures may call (808) 241-1725; call the NWS automated weather line at (808) 245-6001 for storm updates, or visit weather.gov/hawaii. County officials request that people do not call 911 unless it is an emergency situation.

11 a.m.

Flossie remained a tropical storm as of 11 a.m. today, and continues to approach the Hawaiian Islands from the east near 12 mph with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph.

The storm is approximately 430 miles east of Hilo and 635 miles east-southeast of Honolulu.

According to forecasters with the National Weather Service in Honolulu, Flossie is now expected to pass the state “late Monday and Tuesday,” with tropical-storm-force winds possible up to 90 miles from the storm’s center.

To the west of the state, Tropical Depression Erick is expected to become a remnant low sometime today. It continues to move on a west-northwest path away from Hawaii near 13 mph. It is expected to dissipate late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.

A third storm system, Tropical Depression Gil, remains far to the east of the islands. As of 11 a.m., Gil was about 2,115 miles east-southeast of Honolulu and traveling at a speed of approximately 10 mph, with maximum sustained winds near 30 mph. The storm is expected to weaken into a remnant low later today and dissipate by Monday night.

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6:15 a.m.

Tropical Storm Flossie continues to weaken as it heads west toward Hawaii.

As of 5 a.m. today, the storm was about 475 miles east of Hilo and 670 miles east of Honolulu, and was moving near 14 mph with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph with higher gusts.

High surf warnings are in effect until 6 a.m. Monday for east- and north-facing shores on Maui and Hawaii island; a high surf advisory is in effect until 6 a.m. Monday for east-facing shores on Oahu, Kauai and Molokai.

A small craft advisory is also in effect until 6 a.m. Monday for windward waters off Kauai, Maui and Oahu; the Kaiwi and Alenuihaha channels; and leeward, windward and southeast waters off Hawaii island.

Gradual weakening is expected over the next 48 hours, but National Weather Service forecasters do expect Flossie to make a northwest turn on Tuesday. While the system is expected to become a tropical depression on Monday, its current track will bring the system “very close” to Hawaii on Monday and Tuesday, forecasters said, with increasing threats for high surf, potential for flash flooding, strong gusty winds, and thunderstorms.

Until then, light to moderate trade winds will continue across the islands under a high pressure ridge far to the north of the state. Shower activity for most islands will favor typical windward and mountain areas trending towards the overnight and early morning hours overnight into Monday.

Once Flossie passes the islands, drier air should return late Wednesday into Thursday, with increasing trade wind speeds as the storm moves northwest.

County of Hawaii officials report while beaches are open this morning, they may close at any time due to dangerous surf that could reach up to 15 feet today.

In addition, Whittington and Punaluu Beach Parks on Hawaii island are open, but camping permits and pavilion rentals are cancelled through the weekend; the bayfront parking lot on Kamehameha Avenue is closed until further notice; and Hele-On buses will continue to pick up passengers behind Afook-Chinen Civil Auditorium.