Flossie Dropped 5.27 Inches of Rain on Maui During Peak

Flossie impacts in Hāna area of East Maui. Photo courtesy Jo-Lei Redo.

By Wendy Osher

Maui recorded the most rainfall and the highest winds from Tropical Depression Flossie as it passed over the state on Monday into Tuesday, according to a preliminary summary report released by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

The report states that Maui County received peak rainfall amounts of 5.27 inches, with average rainfall of 1 to 2 inches during the event. Sustained winds in Kahului on Maui were also the highest recorded in the state at 33 mph, according to the CPHC.

Initial data also suggests that the center of Flossie never made landfall, but came close to the island of Kauaʻi in the early morning hours of Tuesday, July 30.

Officials with the CPHC note that Flossie became, “the first storm to trigger tropical cyclone related warnings for the state of Hawaiʻi since a previous incarnation of Flossie in 2007.”

A strong northerly wind shear was encountered on its approach to the state, leading to a “decoupling” of the storm circulation, CPHC officials said in the report. This resulted in, “deep convection moving southward while the low level center tracked to the west-northwest.”

Once the system reached the state, impacts included heavy rainfall, wind gusts, and “intense” thunderstorms affecting both Hawaiʻi and Maui Counties on Monday, July 29.

The CPHC report states that total damage estimates are not yet available, and that winds and lighting accounted for the majority of damage from Flossie.

In addition to downed trees, the preliminary report notes that several reports of boulders falling on roads were received from both Oʻahu and Maui.

More than 10,000 homes were without power in Maui County as a result of falling trees and/or lightning strikes, the report notes.

“Frequent cloud to ground lightning strikes across Maui and Molokaʻi led to numerous power outages, damage to at least one home, and one injury when an individual was shocked inside his home,” the CPHC report states.

Mike Cantin, the Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said an official post-storm report is expected to be completed in the next couple of days, and the preliminary document may require updating based upon those findings.

The Maui County Civil Defense agency continues to accept online and phone-in documentation of storm damage through Tuesday, Aug. 2.