STORM UPDATES: Maui Under Flood Watch, Traffic Advisories

Boil Water Advisory LIFTED for Most,
Water Conservation Advisory Continues
Click here for full details: http://mauinow.com/?p=212215

Traffic Advisories:

ʻĪao Valley Road Closure.

WAILUKU:Maui officials issued a reminder that ʻĪao Valley Rd in Wailuku is open to local residential traffic ONLY. The road remained CLOSED to non-residents at 3 p.m.

MANAWAINUI: As of 3:06 p.m., the Piʻilani Highway (31) is now OPEN between Mile 29 (Manawainui Gulch) and Mile 30 (Pahihi River).  At 11:52 a.m., we had reports of falling rocks, and overflowing rivers. The area has since been cleared of debris. 

ULAINO/HANA: As of 3 p.m. on Thursday, authorities say ʻUlaino Road in Hāna remained closed at the first river due to flooding conditions.

HONOAPIILANI HWY: At 7:50 a.m., there is heavy traffic on the Honoapiʻilani Highway.  Lahaina bound traffic is backed up past the tunnel to Papalaua/Ukumehame.  Motorists continue to rubberneck, looking at vehicles stuck in earlier flood waters/mud on the makai side of the road.

HANA HWY AT KEANAE: As of 9:30 a.m., the Hāna Highway is OPEN in both directions in the area of Mile 15 in Keʻanae where a landslide was reported at around 4:30 a.m.

*Please drive safely.  There are still a lot of areas that are saturated, with additional rain expected through Friday afternoon.

Flood Watch Extended to Friday afternoon:

The National Weather Service has extended a Flash Flood Watch through 6 p.m. on Friday afternoon as wet weather continues to impact the state.  A very moist and unstable air mass, interacting with an upper level trough will result in continued unsettle weather with the potential for flash flooding.  Please continue to monitor future reports.

As of 2 p.m., the National Weather Service said conditions have improved considerably in the wake of earlier thunderstorms, but the air mass remains very moist and unstable, so there is still a chance for additional thunderstorms with very heavy downpours to redevelop tonight or Friday.

The NWS reminds the public that many areas are already saturated from recent rains, and additional heavy rain could easily lead to flash flooding.

Record Rainfall Rate Set at Kahului:

Tuesday, Sept. 13 2016: A record daily maximum rainfall was set at Kahului of .23 inches, breaking the old record of 0.07 inches set in 1992. Rainfall rates were near 10 inches at Puu Kukui over a 24-hour period on that day.

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Previous Posts:

Maui Flood Warning Expires, Flood Watch Remains in Effect Through Friday Afternoon
September 15, 2016 at 5:23 a.m.

The Flash Flood Warning for Maui expired at 5:30 a.m.  Rainfall has diminished and flood waters have receded. Additional heavy rain is possible later this morning or afternoon, and a Flash Flood Watch remains in effect through Friday afternoon.

At 5:05 a.m., radar and stream gauges showed that heavy rain and the threat of flash flooding had diminished over West Maui.  Rainfall was also gradually diminishing over the Hāna coast and slopes, but additional heavy showers and thunderstorms were just offshore.  Hāna Highway remains closed in both directions due to a landslide near Mile 15 in Keʻanae.

At 4:17 a.m., radar indicated that heavy rain was gradually diminishing over windward portions of Maui. Stream gauges indicated a rapid rise in water levels in the last hour, but water levels have begun to slowly recede. At 4:25 a.m., the Maui County Civil Defense agency reported a LANDSLIDE ON THE HANA HIGHWAY between Mile 14 and 15 that has lead to the COMPLETE CLOSURE OF THE HANA HIGHWAY.

At 2:35 a.m. radar indicated rapidly developing heavy showers and thunderstorms over windward east Maui from Huelo to Kīpahulu and over the windward west Maui mountains with rainfall rates between 2 and 3 inches per hour. Streams are already high from recent rain and grounds are saturated. Thus most of this rainfall will lead to runoff and dangerously high water levels in streams.

Locations in the warning include but are not limited to windward east Maui between Nāhiku and Kīpahulu and windward west Maui between Kahakuloa and Waiehu including Honokōhau, Paʻuwela, Huelo, Kaupō and Waiehu.

The public is reminded not to cross fast flowing or rising water in their vehicle or on foot.  A flash flood warning means that flash flooding is imminent or occurring in streams, roads and low-lying areas. Those in susceptible areas should move to higher ground.

Flood Advisory for Molokaʻi Until 7:15 a.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Advisory for the island of Molokaʻi until 7:15 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016.  At 4:21 a.m., radar showed heavy showers across the Eastern half of the island.  Rain was falling at a rate of 1-2 inches per hour.  The heavy showers were moving westward at 10 mph.

Flood Advisory Until 4:15 a.m. 9.15.16

Update: 1:21 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Advisory for the island of Maui until 4:15 a.m.

At 1:17 a.m., radar showed rapidly developing heavy showers and thunderstorms over windward East Maui from Huelo to Kīpahulu.  Additional showers and storms are approaching from the East.  Rainfall rates greater than 2 inches per hour will fall over areas already saturated by recent rains.  This will create quickly developing runoff.

Locations in the advisory include, but are not limited to: Haʻikū-Paʻuwela, Kaupō, Paʻuwela, Kīpahulu, Huelo, Nāhiku, Hāna, Kailua, Wailua, Hāmoa and Haleakalā National Park.

SATELLITE Imagery : 1:30 p.m. 9.15.16, NOAA / NWS

Image : NOAA / NWS

Image: NOAA / NWS

SATELLITE Imagery : 2:30 a.m. 9.15.16 NOAA / NWS