High-surf warning in effect for north shores of smaller islands
UPDATE, 6 p.m.
The flood advisory for Hawaii island expired this evening.
3:30 p.m.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood advisory for the island of Hawaii due to excessive rainfall, effective through 6 p.m. today.
At 2:48 p.m., radar indicated a nearly stationary band of heavy rain over the Kau district, NWS said. Rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour. Additional rain is expected during the next few hours.
Some locations that will experience flooding include Kawa Flats, Punaluu Beach, Naalehu, Pahala, Wood Valley, Hawaiian Ocean View, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Waiohinu, Hawaii Volcanoes Park Kahuku Unit and Discovery Harbour.
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Officials warn the public to stay away fro streams, drainage ditches, and low-lying areas prone to flooding.
A high surf warning, meanwhile, remains in place for the north and west facing shores of Niihau, Kauai, and Oahu, and the west facing shores of Hawaii island through 6 p.m. Wednesday. A high surf advisory remains in effect for the north facing shores of Molokai and Maui through 6 p.m. Wednesday.
EARLIER TODAY
A large, west-northwest swell is expected to bring surf up to 28 feet to the north shores of Oahu and Kauai County and has prompted a high-surf warning for affected shores.
A high-surf warning is in effect for the north and west shores of Kauai and Niihau and the west shores of the Big Island through 6 p.m. Wednesday. Meanwhile, a high-surf advisory remains in effect for the north and west shores of Maui and Molokai, also through 6 p.m. Wednesday.
The National Weather Service said the swell arrived in the islands early this morning and will continue to build throughout the day. It is expected to bring advisory-level surf to the exposed shores of most islands before easing Wednesday night.
Forecasters said surf will build to 22 to 28 along the north shores of Kauai and Niihau, and 20 to 25 feet along the north shores of Oahu. The surf along the west shores of Kauai and Niihau is expected to reach up to 18 to 24 feet, with the west shores of Oahu seeing up to 15 to 20 feet.
Large, breaking surf, significant shorebreak and dangerous currents make entering the water very hazardous, the NWS said in its bulletin today. “Anyone entering the water could face significant injury or death.”
