Flooding Forces Closure of Kula Highway Near Sun Yat Sen Park

Photo credit: Maui Police Department, 8/20/15.

By Wendy Osher

UPDATE: 9:224 p.m., 8/20/15. Both lanes of Kula Hwy at MP-18 are open. Barricades have been placed along the sides of the highway due to the previous flooding.

UPDATE: Police are now alternating traffic as long as water levels are low enough for motorists to proceed.

ORIGINAL POST:

The Kula Highway at mile marker 18 near Sun Yat Sen Park is closed in both directions due to high flowing water.

Motorists are advised to drive with caution. Motorists and pedestrians are reminded not to cross fast flowing or rising water in their vehicle or on foot, and do not attempt to pass the closure area.

A Flood Advisory was upgraded to a Flood Warning for the island of Maui, and remains in effect until 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015.

NWS forecasters say that at 3:03 p.m. radar showed heavy rain near Keōkea and Kula, about 15 miles southeast of Kahului.

A subsequent reading at 4:38 p.m. showed flash flooding already occurring in the area with water flowing over the road along the Kula Highway.

Radar showed a small, but persistent area of heavy rain near ʻUlupalakua as well, according to the National Weather Service.

We are also keeping track of a Tropical Depression currently located 800 miles SSE of Kahului.  Maui Now Meteorologist Malika Dudley has the latest on the system and how it is developing.

*Photo credit 8/20/15: Maui Police.