FLOOD UPDATES: Unstable Weather Across Hawai‘i Through Monday

February 18, 2018, 6:39 AM HST
* Updated February 19, 6:07 AM

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The National Weather Service has CANCELLED the FLOOD ADVISORY for the ISLAND OF MAUI. A flash flood watch remains in effect for Maui County through Monday afternoon. Weather radar and rain gauges showed that the heavy rains have abated and the rain continues to gradually dissipate.

THE PUBLIC SHOULD REMAIN CAUTIOUS AND ALERT FOR ANY POSSIBLE FLOODING CONDITIONS. DON’T TRY TO CROSS FLOODED ROADWAYS OR FAST FLOWING STREAMS IN YOUR VEHICLE OR ON FOOT. IT MAY BE TOO DANGEROUS. TURN AROUND…DON’T DROWN.

UPDATE: February 18, 2018 9:15 p.m.
FLOOD ADVISORY – MAUI ISLAND

The National Weather Service has CONTINUED the FLOOD ADVISORY for MAUI ISLAND in effect until midnight.

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A Flood Advisory means that nuisance flooding is occurring or imminent. A Flood Advisory may be upgraded to a Flash Flood Warning if flooding worsens and poses a threat to life and property.

This advisory may need to be extended if heavy rain persists.

A flash flood watch is also in effect for Maui County through Monday afternoon.

At 9:06 p.m., radar indicated heavy rain falling over a good stretch of the island, at a rainfall rate of one to two inches an hour.

Locations in this advisory include but are not limited to: Kahului, Honokohau, Haliimaile, Paia, Makawao, Wailuku, Keokea, Olowalu, Wailea, Waihee, Kaanapali and Kula.

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UPDATE: 617 PM HST SUN FEB 18 2018

THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR THE ISLAND OF MAUI IN MAUI COUNTY IS CANCELLED. Weather radar showed that heavy rain has ended and that earlier flooding impacts have eased. Light to moderate rainfall continues over most of Maui which will keep stream levels elevated and maintain ponding on roads. Thus, the warning will be replaced by a Flood Advisory for the island of Maui. A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect through Monday afternoon.

The National Weather Service has ISSUED a FLOOD ADVISORY for MAUI ISLAND in effect until 9:15 p.m.

This advisory may need to be extended if heavy rain persists.

A Flash Flood Watch is also in effect for Maui County through Monday afternoon.

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A Flood Advisory means that nuisance flooding is occurring or imminent. A Flood Advisory may be upgraded to a Flash Flood Warning if flooding worsens and poses a threat to life and property.

EFFECTS: At 6:18 p.m., radar indicated areas of light to moderate rainfall over portions of Maui. This rainfall is occurring over areas that had received heavy rainfall earlier today and this rainfall will keep streams elevated and will maintain ponding on roads for several hours.

Flash Floods Hitting Central Maui Hard, Drivers Urged to be Cautious

Flash floods hit several areas in Central Maui, forcing the shutdown of Kahekili Highway between Makaala Drive and Waiehu Beach Road.

The Maui County Emergency Management Agency urges motorists to drive with caution during this time. A flash flood warning for Maui County ends at 6:30 p.m. today and a flash flood watch remains in effect for the county until Monday afternoon.

Areas to avoid due to flash flooding today include:

– Iao Valley Road
– River Road in Waihee
– Kahikili Road
– Lower Waiehu Beach Road
– Kahikili Highway, shutdown both lanes from Makaala to Waiehu Beach Road

PREVIOUS POST: UPDATE: 320 PM HST SUN FEB 18 2018

The National Weather Service in Honolulu has extended the

* Flash Flood Warning for the island of Maui in Maui County until 630 PM HST

At 505 PM HST…Heavy rainfall continues over portions of Maui. The most intense rainfall was occurring over the Upcountry region from Keokea to Makawao. Moderate to heavy rainfall was also continuing over the windward slopes of the West Maui Mountains.* At 314 PM HST, radar indicated heavy rain continuing over the windward Haleakala slopes and over the West Maui Mountains. Streams were still running high and Kahekili Highway remains closed in both directions near Waihee School.

* This warning includes the entire island of Maui.

UPDATE: FLASH FLOOD WARNING – MAUI ISLAND Until 3:30 p.m.

PC: NOAA/NWS

The National Weather Service has ISSUED a FLASH FLOOD WARNING for MAUI ISLAND in effect until 3:30 p.m.

A Flash Flood Warning means that flooding is occurring or will develop quickly. This warning may be extended if flash flooding persists.

A flash flood watch is also in effect for Maui County through Monday afternoon.

Iao Valley is closed off due to severe flooding. State and County emergency crews are on scene. Waihee River is also flooding. Some homes are being evacuated. Motorists are advised to stay off the roads until the weather subsides.

At 2:25 PM HST…Heavy rainfall continues over the windward slopes of Maui from Wailuku to Kahakuloa. The Maui Emergency Management Agency reported that Iao Valley Road and Waiehu Beach Road are closed. This warning includes the entire island of Maui.

At 131 PM HST…radar shows heavy rain continuing with the heaviest rain now over the west Maui mountains. Runoff from these showers will be flowing downstream in the Wailuku river and will affect Iao Valley and Wailuku town.

At 12:36 p.m., radar indicated heavy rain moving over Maui from the southeast. The heaviest rain is over southeast Maui with rainfall rates over 3 inches per hour. Flash flooding is expected to begin shortly.

Locations in this advisory include the whole island of Maui.

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS FLASH FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING IN STREAMS, ROADS AND LOW LYING AREAS. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND NOW, DO NOT CROSS FAST FLOWING OR RISING WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE OR ON FOOT. TURN AROUND…DON’T DROWN.

Previous Post:

FLOOD ADVISORY – MAUI ISLAND

EVENT: The National Weather Service has ISSUED a FLOOD ADVISORY for MAUI ISLAND in effect until 2:45 p.m.

A Flood Advisory means that nuisance flooding is occurring or imminent. A Flood Advisory may be upgraded to a Flash Flood Warning if flooding worsens and poses a threat to life and property.

This advisory may need to be extended if heavy rain persists.

A flash flood watch is also in effect for Maui County through Monday afternoon.

EFFECTS: At 11:50 a.m., radar indicated heavy rain developing over several areas of Maui, with rain especially intense over the windward slopes of Haleakala between Huelo and Hana and Kaupo, and over south Maui, upslope from Makena and Wailea. Rain was falling at a rate of two to three inches per hour in the heaviest showers.

Locations in this advisory include but are not limited to: all of east Maui.

Satellite imagery 2.18.18. PC: NOAA/NWS

A strong upper level trough approaching from the northwest will provide increasingly unstable conditions across the state today through Monday.

This will combine with moisture pooled around a weak surface trough drifting westward from near Oʻahu to produce the threat of heavy, flooding rainfall and thunderstorms.

Heavy showers and thunderstorms have already occurred across the eastern and central parts of the state, and the threat of heavy, flooding rainfall and thunderstorms will spread westward to Kauaʻi later today.

The Flash Flood Watch continues for Kahoʻolawe, Kauaʻi, Lānaʻi, Maui, Molokaʻi, Niʻihau, Oʻahu and the Big Island of Hawaiʻi through Monday afternoon.

Abundant low level moisture over the eastern and central parts of the state will spread westward to Kauaʻi today. A strong upper level trough approaching the state will produce unstable conditions that will generate heavy showers and thunderstorms.

Due to increasing instability, heavy showers and thunderstorms could develop rapidly. Heavy rainfall could affect urban and leeward areas, which are more susceptible to flooding problems.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS: A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a dangerous situation. Please monitor forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.