Island-by-Island Weather: Flooding, Waterspouts, Mudslides

Radar imagery 2:55 p.m. 3/6/12, courtesy NOAA & NWS.

By Wendy Osher

MAUI: (Update: 7 p.m. 3/6/12) A Flood Watch has been upgraded to an Advisory for the island of Maui. The Flood Advisory is in effect until 9:45 p.m. At 6:48 p.m., the National Weather Service reported an area of heavy rain moving onshore from the southwest.  (Update: 4:18 p.m. 3/6/12) A Flash Flood Watch is now in effect through 6 a.m. Wednesday for Maui County and the rest of the state, with the exception of the Big Island.  (Update: 3 p.m. 3/6/12) A Special Marine Warning has been extended until 4 p.m. for windward waters of Maui County. The warning is also in effect for the Kaiwi Channel and Oahu windward waters. At 2:35 p.m, the National Weather service reported a line of thunderstorms producing winds upwards of 34 knots located 15 nautical miles northeast of Makapuu.  (Update: 10:27 a.m., 3/6/12) A Wind Advisory has been issued for the upper elevations of Haleakala on Maui until 6 a.m. on Wednesday, March 7, 2012. The advisory is for the area above the 6,000-foot elevation where winds are expected to be southwesterly, blowing at 30 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 55 mph through Tuesday afternoon. (Update: 9:59 a.m. 3/6/12) The NWS has extended a Special Marine Warning for the windward waters of Maui and Oahu, as well as the Kaiwi Channel until 11 a.m. At 9:53 a.m., radar showed a line of thunderstorms producing strong winds upwards of 34 knots. The line was located 26 nautical miles northeast of Honolulu, and was moving northeast at 25 knots.  (Update: 9:17 a.m. 3/6/12) A Special Marine Warning has been issued for the Windward Waters of Maui County, as well as waters along Windward Oahu, and the Kaiwi Channel until 10:15 a.m. NWS forecasters say radar imagery at 9:10 a.m. showed a line of thunderstorms producing strong winds upwards of 34 knots. The line was located about 35 nautical miles East of Honolulu and was moving northeast at 25 knots. (Posted: 7:01 a.m. 3/6/12)  Here on Maui, and across most of the state, there is a Flood Watch in effect through this afternoon. Forecasters with the National Weather Service say the threat of heavy rain and thunderstorms will continue with additional rain bringing an increased chance of runoff and flash flooding.

MOLOKAI: (Update: 7:32 a.m.) The Special Marine Warning for Maui County Windward Waters and the Kaiwi Channel has been extended to 8:30 a.m. At 7:24 a.m., radar showed a thunderstorm producing a waterspout and gusty winds in excess of 34 knots located 10 nautical miles north of La’au Point, and 3 nautical miles northwest of Ilio Point on Molokai. The National Weather Service reports the system was moving northeast at 25 knots.  (Update: 7:12 a.m.3/6/12) The National Weather Service reports a strong thunderstorm moving from the southwest to northeast along the western coast of Molokai between 7:15 and 8 a.m. The thunderstorm is expected to affect Papohaku Beach and Ilio Point on Molokai, producing gusty winds up to 50 mph and dangerous cloud to ground lightning.  (Posted: 7:01 a.m. 3/6/12) A Special Marine Warning remains in effect until 7:45 a.m. for Maui County Leeward Waters and the Kaiwi Channel. At 6:43 a.m., radar showed a thunderstorm producing a waterspout, and gusty winds of 34 knots. The area of activity is located 10 nautical miles southwest of La’au Point, Molokai, and was moving northeast at 10 knots.  Last night, thunderstorms briefly impacted the island of Molokai where lighting and heavy rain was reported late in the evening.

HAWAII ISLAND: The National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 6 p.m. for the Big Island Summits. Accumulation of up to two inches of snow is expected through the day, with visibility dropping below 1 mile, resulting in hazardous driving conditions.

The lower section of the Kapaa Temporary Bypass Road between Olohena Road and Kuhio Highway has been closed indefinitely due to a culvert that collapsed beneath the roadway near Milepost 1.2 due to the recent heavy rains. Photo of the damaged culvert taken on Monday, March 5, 2012. Photo courtesy HDOT.

KAUAI: (Update: 4:20 p.m. 3/6/12) Due to the continued closure of the Hanalei Bridge, Hanalei School will be closed on Wednesday, March 7, 2012. ALL other DOE schools on Kauai will be open. The school bus transportation service from Haena to Hanalei will not be operating. Students living in Hanalei to Haena that attend Kapaa Middle and Kapaa High Schools will not have school bus transportation service due to the inclement weather and closure of Hanalei Bridge. The Department of Education will continue to closely monitor the weather situation.  (Update: 4:06 p.m. 3/6/12) The Flash Flood Warning for Kauai has been cancelled and replaced with a Flood Watch, in effect through late tonight. Civil Defense and NWS officials report that the Kuhio Highway has been reopened at Hanalei.  (Update: 2:28 p.m. 3/6/12) The state Department of Transportation issued an advisory to Kauai motorists this afternoon, that the south leg of the Kapaa Temporary Bypass Road, between Kuhio Highway and Olohena Road, is closed indefinitely after heavy rains and floods undermined a 36-inch culvert under the roadway. State highway personnel have completed site inspections. Design of a repair project has been expedited and is in-progress.  (Update: 1:53 p.m. 3/6/12) The Flash Flood Warning has been extended for the island of Kauai until 5 p.m. Another area of moderate to heavy rain is expected to move onto the north shore of Kauai at around 2:15 p.m., according to forecasters with the National Weather Service. As of 1:36 p.m., Kuhio Highway remained closed at Hanalei and in Haena due to ponding on the roadway. There are also reports of a closure in Kalihiwai.  (Update: 11:34 a.m. 3/6/12) The National Weather Service has extended a Flash Flood Warning for the island of Kauai until 2 p.m. At 11 a.m., NWS forecasters say rainfall had tapered off along the north slopes of the island, but stream flow remained high. The Kuhio Highway remained closed at last report at Hanalei, and near the Kalihiwai Bridge.  (Update: 8:29 a.m. 3/6/12) The National Weather Service has extended a Flash Flood Warning for the island of Kauai until 11:15 a.m. At 8:18 a.m., NWS forecasters say radar showed pockets of moderate rain over the north and east facing slopes of the island. Although stream gauges are experiencing a slow decline in water levels, numerous road closures continue including: portions of Kuhio Highway in Haena, near Lumahai, in Hanalei, near Kalihiwai Bridge, and near Kilauea. The Kapaa bypass road and Kamalu Road in Wailua also remain closed at last report.  (Posted: 7:01 a.m. 3/6/12) A Flash Flood Warning has been extended until 8:30 a.m. for the island of Kauai. At around 5 this morning, radar showed pockets of heavy rain over the north and east facing slopes of the island. Portions of the Kuhio Highway continues to suffer impacts of debris and flooding. Also, the Kapaa Bypass Road and Kamalu Road in Wailua remain closed.  Island public school closures include: Hanalei School, Kilauea School, Kapaa High School, Kapaa Middle School, and Kapaa Elementary School.

OAHU: (Update: 2:54 p.m. 3/6/12) The National Weather Service has extended a Flash Flood Warning for the island of Oahu until 5 p.m. At 2:42 p.m., radar showed moderate to locally heavy rain moving over the island from the southwest. The Kalanianaole Highway remained closed at last report near Sandy Beach.  (Update: 2:13 p.m. 3/6/12) At 2 p.m., heavy rains continued to move over Oahu from the southwest. Flooding was reported on Kapaa Quary Road. There were also closures reported on Hawaii Kai Drive between Lunalilo Home Road and Kalahou Street. The Flood Warning remains in effect for the island through 3 p.m.  (Update: 1:17 p.m. 3/6/12) The state Department of Transportation has issued an advisory to Oahu motorists that Kalanianaole Highway is closed in both directions between Lunalilo Home Road and Kealahou Street near Koko Head Crater due to rocks and debris on the roadway. The highway will remain closed until the road is cleared and engineers assess the adjacent hillside for potential hazards. Two rock slides occurred at approximately 3 and 8:30 a.m., as a result of on-going heavy rainfall.  (Update: 12:09 p.m. 3/6/12) The island of Oahu remains under a Flash Flood Warning through 3 p.m. Just before noon today, radar continued to show heavy rain affecting saturated portions of East Honolulu and Waimanalo. Earlier today, partial road closures were reported along the Kalanianaole Highway near Sandy Beach. The National Weather Service says another area of heavy showers is developing to the southwest of Oahu, and will continue to move over the island through this afternoon.   (Update: 10:59 a.m. 3/6/12) Radar at 10:52 this morning showed a line of thunderstorms producing strong wins along the southeast tip of Oahu. The National Weather Service says the line is running from the northeast to southwest , and has extended a Special Marine Warning until 11:45 a.m.  (Update: 10:49 a.m. 3/6/12) The Flash Flood Warning for Oahu has been extended to 1:45 p.m. According to NWS reports, radar at 10:24 a.m. showed a band of heavy showers falling over east Honolulu from Diamond Head to Hawaii Kai. Water has been reported along portions of the Kalanianaole Highway in East Honolulu. A rock slide was also reported near Sandy Beach.  (Update: 9:50 a.m. 3/6/12) The National Weather Service anticipates frequent lightning, heavy rainfall, and small hail over southeast Oahu. The area of thunderstorms is expected to impact the southeast portion of the island through at least 11:45 a.m.  (Update: 9:39 a.m. 3/6/12) Law enforcement authorities have reported a rockslide that has resulted in the partial closure of Kalanianaole Highway near the Halona Blow Hole next to Sandy Beach. The conditions, authorities say were caused by flash flooding.  (Update: 9:21 a.m. 3/6/12) The NWS reports that a Flash Flood Warning remains in effect for Oahu until 10:45 a.m. Another band of heavy showers is expected to move over already saturated portions of the island from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. The warning area includes Waimanalo. (Update: 8:24 a.m., 3/6/12) A Special Marine Warning has been extended until 9:15 a.m. for the Kaiwi Channel, as well as Windward waters of Oahu. At around 8:15 a.m., radar showed a thunderstorm producing a waterspout with winds greater than 34 knots, located 10 nautical miles north of Mokapuu, or about 19 nautical miles east of Honolulu. NWS forecasters say the system was moving northeast at 20 knots.  (Update: 7:56 a.m. 3/6/12) The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Warning for the island of Oahu until 10:45 a.m. At 7:48 a.m., NWS forecasters say radar showed heavy rain over the southeast portion of the island from Diamond Head to Hawaii Kai and Waimanalo. Other locations in the warning include Aina Haina, Palolo, Niu Valley, and Kuliouou.  (Posted: 7:01 a.m. 3/6/12) On Oahu, a Flood Advisory was issued until 9:30 a.m. with heavy rain reported over the southern and eastern portions of the island. A mudslide at Diamond Head overnight forced the closure of the road near the Diamond Head Lighthouse.

***Supporting information courtesy the National Weather Service & NOAA.