Maui storm updates for Monday: weather warnings, road closures, cancellations
Satellite imagery (12.19.22) PC: NOAA/NWS- Enhanced radar (12.19.22) PC: NOAA/NWS
- Wailuku rain. PC: Wendy Osher (12.19.22)
- Wailuku rain. PC: Wendy Osher (12.19.22)
- Wailuku rain. PC: Wendy Osher (12.19.22)
- Wailuku rain. PC: Wendy Osher (12.19.22)
*Tuesday storm aftermath updates are posted HERE.
*Monday storm updates are posted HERE
Numerous showers, heavy at times, and thunderstorms will continue through today as a kona storm moves through the region. Bands of thunderstorms are moving through islands ahead of a vigorous cold front that will sweep through the state from northwest to southeast today, according to the National Weather Service.
Stronger thunderstorms may become severe through this afternoon with strong winds and the potential for hail. Strong southwesterly kona winds will increase ahead of the cold front, with the strongest wind speeds forecast for communities along the down wind north and east slopes of mountain areas, according to the NWS.
Periods of heavy rain with this storm will likely result in flash flooding in some areas. The forest calls for weather to improve over the western islands by Monday night and across the rest of the state by Tuesday. Fair weather and light winds expected from Wednesday through Friday.
Warnings, Watches, Advisories:
- Hawaiʻi Island Flash Flood Warning: until 8 p.m. At 6:52 p.m, radar showed moderate showers continuing over the leeward Big Island slopes, with peak rainfall rates of up to 1 inch per hour. Water levels remain elevated in the streams, which will persist through early evening hours before lowering.
- Winter Storm Warning for Big Island summits: until 6 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. Blizzard conditions are possible. Additional snow accumulations of up to 8 inches are expected. Winds can gust as high as 120 mph.
- High Wind Warning for parts of Kahoʻolawe, Lanaʻi, Maui, Molokaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island: until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. These areas can expect SW winds of 30-45 mph with localized gusts over 60 mph, especially over and downwind of terrain. Localized wind gusts over 80 mph are possible on Hawaiʻi Island.
- High Surf Warning for N and W facing shores of Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu and Molokaʻi, and N facing shores of Maui: until 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. Dangerous large breaking waves of 30-40 feet are expected. These areas can expect strong breaking waves and powerful currents. Waves will break in channel entrances and make navigating channels dangerous.
- Severe Thunderstorm Watch: until 8 p.m. Dec. 19, for Big Island Windward, Leeward and SE waters, as well as Kona on Hawaiʻi Island. These thunderstorms are capable of producing damaging winds of 58 mph or higher or destructive hail the size of quarters or larger.
- Flood Watch is canceled for Maui County as of 5:18 p.m., Monday, Dec. 19, 2022
- Brown Water Advisory Maui: Heavy rain has resulted in stormwater runoff entering into coastal waters. The public is advised to stay out of flood waters and storm water runoff due to possible overflowing cesspools, sewer, manholes, pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, pathogens, chemicals, and associated flood debris. Not all coastal areas may be impacted by runoff, however, if the water is brown the public is advised to stay out.
Road Closures:
- Members of the Maui County Department of Public Works clean mud from South Kihei road below North Kihei Road intersection. Road is closed due to mud flow into road. (12.19.22) PC: Tom Blackburn-Rodriguez
- Mud closes road from South Kihei Road below North Kihei Road intersection. (12.19.22) PC: Tom Blackburn-Rodriguez
- Flood waters closed Ka’ono’ulu Street. Monday morning. View of street looking east.(12.19.22) PC: Tom Blackburn-Rodriguez
- Flood waters close South Kihei Road at bridge near entrance to Ka’ono’ulu Street in North Kihei. (12.19.22) PC: Tom Blackburn-Rodriguez
- A car enters South Kihei Road in area where controversy surrounded a proposed failed housing development where residents complained it flooded frequently. (12.19.22) PC: Tom Blackburn-Rodriguez
- Kiawe tree down on Koki street Kihei. PC: 12.19.22 Kandalynn Naidl
- Storm creates hazardous conditions along Hāna Highway: Continuing stormy conditions throughout Maui County have resulted in unsafe driving conditions along Hāna Highway. Boulders, rocks and broken branches are blocking portions of the highway. Visitors are asked to postpone planned trips to Hāna until weather and road conditions have improved. Hāna residents are currently without power and dependent upon generators. There is no Wi-Fi service in the area. Streams in the Hāna area are prone to flash flooding. Flash floods can occur within minutes of excessive rainfall and can roll boulders, tear out trees, destroy bridges, and easily move heavy vehicles. Flood-producing rains can also trigger catastrophic mud slides. Most storm-related deaths are due to flash floods. Do not drive across ponds or rushing water. Turn around, don’t drown.
- Piʻilani Highway between Kīpahulu and ʻUlupalakua: Due to flash flooding, Piʻilani HIghway between Kīpahulu and ʻUlupalukua is closed until further notice, as of 3:50 p.m. on Dec. 18, 2022. Residents in the Kaupō / Kīpahulu area are advised that the road is washed out about a mile east of Kaupō Gulch. Road closed signage was placed from Kīpahulu to ʻUlupalukua.
- South Maui:
- S. Kīhei Road is OPEN. (Update 11:49 p.m., Dec. 18, 2022)
- Kaonoulu Street remains CLOSED. (Update 11:49 p.m., Dec. 18, 2022)
- Kauhikoa and Haʻikū Road closed due to downed pole: Kauhikoa and Haʻikū Roads are closed as of 5:08 p.m. on Dec. 18, 2022 due to a fallen utility pole.
Power outages:
Pocket outages remain: As of 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, crews were still working to safely restore power to the remaining affected areas: pockets of Hāna, Hāmoa-Koali, Olinda, Piʻiholo, Kula, Haʻikū, Mākena and Kīhei. A crew is also responding to a small pocket outage on Molokaʻi.
Several communities still without power: Hawaiian Electric crews continue work to restore the remaining affected areas still experiencing power outages. Areas without power as of 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday include: parts of Wailuku, Kīhei, Wailea, Mākena, and pockets in the Haʻikū, Kula, Olinda and Piʻiholo areas. A crew is also responding to the East End of Molokaʻi this morning.
Power restoration continues: As of 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, outages continued in parts of Kīhei, pockets in Kahului, Haʻikū, Olowalu, Olinda and Pi’iholo areas. Hawaiian Electric reports that crews will be working on repairs this morning to restore power to remaining customers.
A spokesperson for Kaiser Permanente reports that all Maui facilities will open for normal operations on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. The Maui Lani urgent care facility, which usually stays open until 8 p.m. closed early on Monday due to an area power outage.
Crews working overnight to restore power: 9:30 p.m. Power has been restored to Wailuku. Remaining affected areas include parts of Kīhei, pockets in Kahului, Ha‘ikū, Olowalu, Olinda and Piʻiholo areas. Crews will be working overnight.
4,500 customers till without power: As of 7:30 p.m. Hawaiian Electric was continuing to make progress and working to restore a remaining 4,500 customers affected by storm-related power outages across Maui. Affected areas include parts of Wailuku, pockets in the Kahului, Kīhei, Ha‘ikū, Olowalu and Olinda and Pi’iholo areas. While crews are working into the evening, customers still experiencing an outage by 10 p.m. should prepare for a possible extended overnight outage. Work includes repairing downed power lines and poles brought down by trees and fixing electrical equipment.
Maui Lani Urgent Care is closed due to power outage: Facility located at 55 Maui Lani Parkway is usually open until 8 p.m. but due to power outage it was forced to close early today, Monday, Dec. 19, 2022.
Hawaiian Electric crews work to restore remaining 5,000 customers on Maui: As of 5 p.m., Hawaiian Electric crews are working to restore a remaining 5,000 customers affected by storm-related power outages across Maui Affected areas include parts of Wailuku, Waikapū, pockets of Kahului, Wailea, Makena, Kīhei, as well as Upcountry areas including Olinda and Pi‘iholo, Kula and ‘Ulupalakua, and the Ha‘ikū to Hāna area. Around 2:15 p.m. there were about 12,000 customers across Maui island without power.
Hawaiian Electric crews continue storm-related restorations on Maui: As of 4 p.m., Hawaiian Electric crews are continuing to respond to storm-related outages currently affecting about 12,000 customers across Maui island. A majority of the customers experienced an outage around 2:15 p.m. during the issuance of a severe thunderstorm warning for Maui. Affected areas include parts of Wailuku, Waikapū, Waiehu, pockets of Kahului, Wailea, Kīhei, as well as Upcountry areas including Olinda and Pi‘iholo, Kula and ‘Ulupalakua, and the Ha‘ikū to Hāna area.
Widespread outages: As of 2:30 p.m., crews from Hawaiian Electric on Maui are responding to outages in the Kahului, Kīhei, Makawao, Nāpili and Kāʻanapali areas. Restoration efforts also continuing for Haʻikū to Hāna area, Upcountry, including Olinda and Piʻiholo, Kula and ʻUlupalakua as well as Olowalu and Wailuku areas. There are also outages in parts of Wailea, and the Waiʻinu-Waiʻale area.
Temporary outage at some Kaiser Maui facilities: As of 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 19, Kaiser Permanente Maui reports it is experiencing power outages at some of its Maui facilities. The facilities remain open for urgent needs and Kaiser is hopeful the issues will resolve soon. Patients who wish to rescheduled can call 833-833-3333.
Power restored to Pāʻia area: As of 9:40 a.m., power was restored to all customers in the Spreckelsville/Hāna Highway/Stable Road/Pāʻia Mini-bypass area. To report an outage, call the Hawaiian Electric trouble line at 871-7777.
220 without power on Maui: As of 8:10 a.m., there were about 220 customers without power in Spreckelsville, Hāna Highway, and Stable Road to the Pāʻia mini-bypass area. Crews are responding.
500 without power on Maui: As of 7:35 a.m., there are about 500 customers without power in parts of Upcountry, including Olinda and Piʻiholo, Kula and ʻUlupalakua as well as small pockets in the Haʻikū, Olowalu, Lahaina and Wailuku areas. Crews are responding.
Shelter opens in Hāna; Shelters close in Wailuku and Kīhei:
- Shelter opens in Hāna area of East Maui: Volunteers with the American Red Cross are staffing a shelter in response to high winds and rain limiting access along Hāna Highway. The shelter is open as of 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 19, and is located at: Hāna High & Elementary School (4111 Hāna Highway, Hāna, HI 96713). Red Cross caseworkers will work with those affected to provide assistance. Island residents and visitors coming to the shelter are advised to bring anything they may need, especially essentials like food, bedding, medicine, important documentation and personal protective equipment like masks and sanitizer. Pets are welcome if they are kept in a hard-case kennel.
- Shelters have closed in both Central and South Maui: The shelters opened at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, at the War Memorial Gym in Wailuku and at Kamaliʻi Elementary School in Kīhei in response to the inclement weather. The Red Cross advises that both facilities were closed at 3:30 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 19, with no population
Park, facility closures, cancellations:
Central Maui Landfill closed until further notice: The County of Maui’s Department of Environmental Management’s Solid Waste Division announced that flooding, road debris and unsafe weather conditions have closed the Central Maui Landfill until further notice. Haulers are asked to avoid the Pūlehu Road area due to poor road conditions and approaching thunderstorms, high winds and heavy rains. An announcement will be made upon the decision to reopen the landfill when conditions permit. For additional information, phone the Solid Waste Division at 808-270-7874.
Haleakalā National Park closures due to severe weather: The Summit District of Haleakalā National Park and the Pīpīwai Trail in the Kīpahulu District are closed due to severe weather effective Dec. 18, 2022 at 4 p.m. All sunrise reservations on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022, and Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, have been canceled. All reservations for Hosmer Grove Campground, wilderness cabins, and wilderness tent camping for Dec. 19, 2022 are cancelled.
Inclement weather forces closure of the municipal golf course: The County of Maui’s Department of Parks and Recreation has announced that due to heavy rains and flooding, the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course is closed and will remain closed through Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. If weather conditions permit, the course may reopen on Wednesday, Dec. 20.
Maui County pools close due to inclement weather: Storm-generated lightning has closed all Maui County pools. Staff will monitor conditions and follow public safety protocols.
Private facility closures:
Pacific Cancer Foundation will close today (Monday, Dec. 18, 2022) as employees live in outlying areas. Call 808-283-8390 with questions. Clients can call 911 for emergencies.
Water conservation:
Water conservation request for Kaunakakai, Molokaʻi: Due to heavy rain events, the Department of Water Supply is issuing a water conservation request for Kaunakakai, Molokaʻi. Numerous power outages, have resulted in the loss of the Kualapuʻu well pump which services the Kaunakakai area. The estimated time to assess the situation, restore the well pump back online and replenish the diminished water storage levels to meet demand is 72 hours. More here.
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