Maui Flood Watch Until 4 a.m. Saturday 3/10/12

Satellite imagery courtesy NOAA & NWS, 6:30 a.m. 3/8/12.

By Wendy Osher

****Further Updates are posted at the following LINK.

(3:18 p.m. 3/8/12) A Flash Flood Watch has been extended until 4 a.m. on Saturday 3/10/12 for the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu and Kauai.

The system impacting the state is forecast to move west through Friday. Forecasters with the National Weather Service say trough will interact with an upper level disturbance, resulting in a good chance for continued rain and thunderstorms.

The Flash Flood Warning that was in effect earlier this afternoon for Maui has since been cancelled.

(Update: 12:22 p.m. 3/8/12) A Flash Flood Warning has been issued for the island of Maui until 3:15 p.m.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service report heavy rain near Waiehu.

Radar images at 12:06 p.m. showed rainfall rates of three-and-a-half to four inches per hour, according to the NWS.

The area of heavy rain continues to move west through the West Maui Mountain chain.

Other locations in the Warning include Windward, West Maui, Iao Valley, Waihee, Kahakuloa and Honokohau.

(Update: 11:45 a.m. 3/8/12) A Flood Advisory has been extended for Maui until 2:45 p.m.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service say radar images at 11:30 a.m., showed heavy rains over Waihee, about nine miles northwest of Kahului.

The area of heavy rain, they say, was moving west across the West Maui Mountains onto the leeward coast.

Other locations in the advisory include Kahului, napili, Kapalua, Kahakuloa, Maalaea and Lahaina.

(Update: 10:20 a.m. 3/8/12) A Wind Advisory for Lanai was added to the list of notices issued by the National Weather Service today. The Advisory will remain in effect until 4 a.m. on Friday with winds expected to be in the 20-35 mph range with higher gusts.

(10:07 a.m. 3/8/12) A Flood Advisory has been issued for the island of Molokai until 1 p.m. Just before 10 a.m., radar showed heavy rain across the eastern portion of the island with a rapid rise in water levels reported at the Halawa Stream gauge. Forecasters with the National Weather Service say the area of heavy rain was moving west at 5 mph. The advisory includes Molokai Airport, Kualapuu, Kepuhi, Kalaupapa, Hoolehua, and Halawa Valley.

(Update: 9:38 p.m. 3/8/12) A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for Maui County as well as Oahu and Kauai from noon today to 4 p.m. on Friday.

The threat of heavy rains and thunderstorms will spread west from Maui today, to Kauai by tonight, according to forecasters with the National Weather Service. The wet weather will bring increased runoff that could produce flash flooding and potentially result in landslides.

The National Weather Service reports a surface trough in the vicinity of Maui is forecast to move west through Friday. Forecasters say the trough will interact with an upper level disturbance, resulting in a good chance of heavy rains and thunderstorms.

The wet weather and road conditions on Molokai overnight forced the closure of Kilohana School today.  There was also a thunderstorm with hail offshore of Hana, Maui reported at around 6:30 this morning.

(Update: 7:04 a.m. 3/8/12) The Flood Advisory for Maui has been cancelled. There is a Special Marine Warning in effect as a thunderstorm producing hail moved offshore of Hana Maui at around 6:30 a.m. On Molokai, Kilohana School is closed due to weather and road conditions.

(Update: 6:37 a.m. 3/8/12) SCHOOL CLOSURE: Kilohana School on Molokai is closed today due to weather and road conditions. All other public and charter schools are open.  At around 5:15 a.m. authorities reported that most of the Kamehameha Highway (Hwy 450) was reopened, with a section still closed near mile marker 11 where crews are removing debris.

On Maui, a Special marine Warning was issued for Windward waters around the island as well as the Alenuihaha Channel because of a thunderstorm producing hail, located about 15 nautical miles east of Hana. The system was moving southeast at 5 knots.

(Update: 5:16 a.m. 3/8/12)

The Flash Flood Warning has been cancelled for the island of Molokai. The heavy rains have ended and runoff has subsided significantly. At 5:16 a.m. authorities reported that most of Highway 450 was reopened, with a section still closed near mile marker 11 where crews are removing debris.

(Update: 4:05 a.m. 3/8/12)

The Flood Advisory has been extended for Maui until 7:15 a.m.

At 3:54 a.m., radar showed moderate to heavy rain along the windward slopes of Maui from Hana to Kahakuloa.

The National Weather Service notes that stream levels may be elevated across the area. The rainfall may continue for several more hours.

Locations in the advisory include Hana,, Keanae, Haiku, Paia, Kahului, Waihee and Wailuku.

A Flash Flood Warning is also in effect for the island of Molokai until 5:30 a.m.

The National Weather Service reports that radar at around 2:15 a.m. showed that intense showers over East Molokai ended; however, runoff levels remained high.

Roadways were impassable at last report over Kaunakaki Gulch, just west of Kaunakakai town, and on Kamehameha V Highway (Hwy 450) at mile markers 5, 10, 11, and 14.

The Warning includes the areas of Kalaupapa, Kawela, Kamalo, and Halawa.

(Posted: 10:31 p.m. 3/7/12)

The National Weather Service issued a Flood Advisory for the island of Maui until 1:15 a.m. on Thursday, March 8, 2012.

At 10:08 p.m., radar showed moderate to heavy rain over the windward slopes of Maui from Nahiku to Kahakuloa. Forecasters with the NWS say the area of rain was nearly stationary.

Other locations in the advisory include Hana, Keanae, Haiku, Paia, Kahului, Waihee, and Wailuku.

The public is reminded to stay away from streams, drainage ditches and low-lying areas prone to flooding.

***Supporting information courtesy NOAA & NWS.