UPDATE 4:30 p.m.

The National Weather Service canceled the flood advisory for the island of Maui at 4:05 p.m., just about 10 minutes ahead of its orginal expiration time.

Radar shows the heavy rains have diminished.

The heavy rains, however, resulted in stormwater runoff entering coastal waters, and a brown water advisory has been issued for the island of Maui.

The state Health Department’s clean water branch also issued brown water advisories for the island of Kauai; Pokai Bay, Kuhio Beach, and Ala Moana Beach on Oahu; and Kawaihae Bay on Hawaii island today.

Haleakala National Park’s summit district closed temporarily — from the summit entrance station on Haleakala Highway to the summit — at 4 p.m. today due to winter weather conditions. All sunrise reservations scheduled for Thursday morning have been canceled.

Honolulu firefighters said they responded to 18 weather-related calls this afternoon — including seven downed trees, six arcing wire calls, three downed power lines, and two blown roofs.

Forecasters, meanwhile, said the cold front is now weakening as its leading edge approaches Hawaii island.

“The threat for thunderstorms and gusty winds will continue to exist through this evening for the Big Island and parts of Maui,” forecasters said. “But later tonight, we should see conditions improve for these areas and a much cooler air mass will begin to move in from west to east across the state.”

2:30 p.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a special weather alert warning of gusty winds and heavy rains affecting Kahoolawe and Maui.

At 2:25 p.m., radar indicated a line of heavy showers with embedded thunderstorms moving toward Maui from the west. This line is expected to move east at 20 to 25 mph, bringing a brief period of torrential rains, and winds gusting to near 40 mph through mid-afternoon.

The torrential rains may cause localized flooding.

All of Kahoolawe and Maui are impacted.

A special marine warning, meanwhile, covering Maui County windward and leeward waters, Maalaea Bay, Alenuihaha Channel, and Hawaii island leeward waters, has been extended to 4 p.m. today.

1:45 p.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood advisory for the island of Maui, effective through 4:15 p.m. today.

At 1:19 p.m., radar indicated heavy rain over the south slope of Haleakala, from Ulupalakua to Kaupo, officials said. Rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour.

Another rain band is expected to arrive over Maui within the next hour from the west, and expected to move eastward across the Valley isle this afternoon.

The flood advisory for Oahu ended at 1:45 p.m.

11:45 a.m.

The National Weather Service has extended the flood advisory for Oahu another two hours to 1:45 p.m. today.

At about 11:25 a.m., radar indicated heavy rain gradually diminishing from west to east across the island of Oahu. Ponding of water, however, continues from earlier rainfall, and water levels in streams remain elevated.

Officials warn of hazardous driving conditions due to the ponding, reduced visibility and poor braking action.

Brown water advisories were issued this morning for the island of Kauai and Ala Moana Beach Park. Kuhio Beach in Waikiki and Pokai Bay on Oahu due to stormwater runoff entering coastal waters.

Numerous power outages were also reported this morning for numerous areas of Oahu and on Molokai.

In addition, weather officials warn of gusty winds and heavy rain impacting the islands of Molokai and Lanai.

At 11:40 a.m., radar indicated a line of heavy showers, with a few embedded thunderstorms, approaching Molokai and Lanai from the west. This line is expected to move east at 20 to 25 mph, and will bring a brief period of westerly winds gusting to near 50 mph through early afternoon hours.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, officials said, and localized flooding is possible.

Maunalua Elementary on Molokai closed today due to severe weather and power outages. The state Department of Education said families have been contacted, and that the school would still offer grab-and-go lunch service.

A small craft warning is also in place for waters northwest of Kauai to windward of Oahu, including Kaiwi Channel, through 6 a.m. Thursday.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

A strong cold front from the west is bringing heavy rain and gusty winds to Hawaii, prompting multiple advisories as it moves down the island chain today and tonight.

The National Weather Service has issued flood advisories for Kauai and Oahu through mid-morning following heavy rains this morning.

At 8:35 a.m., radar showed a line of heavy rain and strong thunderstorms moving over Oahu from the west, with rain falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour, according to the National Weather Service. An earlier image showed rain falling at a similar rate over Kauai.

The flood advisory for Kauai has been extended through 10 a.m. while the advisory for Oahu has been extended through 11:45 a.m.

Visitors and residents are advised to stay away from streams, drainage ditches and low-lying areas prone to flooding. Rainfall and runoff will also cause hazardous driving conditions.

All Hawaii islands are also under a wind advisory until 6 p.m. today. Forecasters said southwest to west winds in the 20-30 mph range, with localized gusts over 50 mph, are expected today. The summit of Haleakala also could see gusts of over 55 mph.

Winds will likely be most prevalent over mountain ridges and along the northeast and east sides of the isles.

“Winds this strong will make driving difficult and will be capable of downing trees and causing power outages,” the advisory said.

Several outages affecting hundreds of customers were reported to Hawaiian Electric this morning on Oahu, including the North Shore, Waipahu, and Honolulu areas, as well as parts of Molokai.

Forecasters expect clouds and showers to increase over the western islands today, and the leading edge of the front to move across Maui County this afternoon — bringing possible thunderstorms in advance.

Today’s forecast is windy, with frequent showers, scattered thunderstorms and gusty winds in some areas. Temperatures during the day range from 73 to 78, but will feel cooler with the southwest winds of 15 to 30 mph.

Tonight’s lows drop into the 50s for some areas, with likely showers and isolated thunderstorms for Oahu and Maui this evening.

Dropping temperatures are also expected to add another 2 to 4 inches of snow over the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on Hawaii island.

A winter weather advisory has been issued for the Big Isle summits, in effect from noon today to 6 a.m. Thursday.

Wind gusts at the summits are expected at as high as 40 mph, and weather officials warn that this could make travel there very difficult.

Surf is also on the way up for north and west shores due to a large, west-northwest swell building down the isle chain today and Thursday.

Forecasters said surf is expected to build to warning levels along north and west facing shores of Kauai tonight, with low-end warning level surf expected to reach north and west facing shores of the Oahu, Molokai and north facing shores of Maui on Thursday.

Surf for north shores is forecast to rise from 7 to 10 feet this afternoon to 22 to 28 feet on Thursday, while surf on west shores rises from 4 to 6 feet today to 15 to 20 feet on Thursday.

Surf for south lowers from 3 to 5 feet to 0 to 2 feet Thursday, and for east shores from 2 to 4 feet to 1 to 3 feet Thursday.

Surf will remain elevated for northwest shores through at least Friday night before dropping below advisory levels on Saturday.

Forecasters, meanwhile, expect a northerly flow across the state behind the cold front, which will bring cooler and drier air across the isles.