Drier conditions expected after wet New Year’s weekend

UPDATE: 11:40 p.m.

The flash flood watch for Oahu, Kauai and Niihau has been canceled.

National Weather Service forecasters said drier conditions, along with light winds, are expected through the first work week of the New Year.

4:13

Power has been restored to about 1,300 customers in Kailua, HECO said via Twitter.

3:39 p.m.

Hawaiian Electric Co. reports via its online outage website that more than 1,300 customers are without power this afternoon in Kailua.

About 100 customers are also without power in Ahuimanu and Kahaluu, with about 100 more in areas of Leeward Oahu that include Pacific Palisades, Pearl City, Waiawa, Waikele, Waipahu and Waipio.

HECO said via Twitter this afternoon that power in Kailua should be restored to all customers by 9:30 p.m. No updates for the other neighborhoods were immediately available.

2:06 p.m.

The flash flood watch for Oahu has been extended until 6 a.m. Monday.

12:22 p.m.

A flood advisory is in effect until 3 p.m. for the island of Oahu, due to excessive rain islandwide.

According to the National Weather Service, at 11:48 a.m. radar indicated heavy rain was falling over Oahu at a rate of two to three inches per hour.

Flooding is highly likely near roads, in areas with poor drainage and near streams due to the ground being saturated from prior rainfall.

11:26 a.m.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a special weather statement warning of a strong thunderstorm expected to impact portions of Oahu through 12:30 p.m.

According to the NWS, radar showed the storm approaching at 11:23 a.m. from the south, with expected winds in excess of 40 miles per hour and potential for frequent cloud-to-ground lightning strikes.

Affected areas include Honolulu, Waipio, Waimanalo, Wahiawa, Waialua, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii Kai, Kaaawa, Kahuku, Punaluu, Waikele, Kapolei, Kalihi, Moanalua, Waiahole, Nanakuli and Pearl City.

9:07 a.m.

The National Weather Service has canceled the flash flood warning for Kauai. A flash flood watch remains in effect for that island, along with Oahu and Niihau, until 6 p.m. today.

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Kauai is under a flash flood warning this morning, and Oahu, Kauai and Niihau remain under a flood watch through 6 p.m. as the weather system that has drenched the islands since Friday continues.

The National Weather Service said the warning for Kauai is in effect until 10:30 a.m.

“At 7:22 a.m., Kuhio Highway in the vicinity of the Hanalei Bridge is closed due to flooding while bands of heavy rain continue to track over the island of Kauai,” the warning said.

The warning area includes Lihue, Kapaa, Kalaheo, Kekaha, Princeville, Kilauea, North Fork Wailua Trails, Alakai Swamp Trails, Lawai, Omao, Kokee State Park, Wailua Homesteads, Hanalei, Hanapepe, Wainiha, Na Pali State Park, Koloa, Haena, Waimea and Wailua.

A flood watch covers Oahu, Kauai and Niihau through 6 p.m. today, the weather service said.

“A moist and unstable air mass will bring heavy showers and a few thunderstorms to Kauai and Oahu today, in areas which have seen significant rainfall over the past couple days. Any training of these heavy showers and thunderstorms could result in flash flooding,” forecasters said.

The storm system has been blanketed the islands for the holiday weekend, causing road closures and flooding on several islands.

Oahu has received the most rain. In the 24-hour period ending at 6:45 a.m. today, the Maunawili gauge recorded 6.38 inches of rain, the highest total on Oahu.

Many areas on the island received between 2 to 4 inches over the period, with Aloha Tower recording 2.45 inches, Manoa getting 4.55 inches, Palolo receiving 4.52 inches, and the Hawaii Kai Golf Course recording nearly 3 inches, according to the weather service.

Forecasters said this morning that the storm system is moving away from the islands, but “a moist and unstable southerly wind flow will remain in place through Monday.”

They predict a chance of thunderstorms statewide through tonight, with heavy rainfall most likely over Oahu and Kauai County.

“A gradual drying trend is expected to begin Monday, with winds becoming light. The light winds will combine with a stable island atmosphere by midweek, with much fewer showers expected,” forecasters said.