Maui severe weather updates for Jan. 30, 2025: Flash Flood Warning extended, severe thunderstorms in forecast

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Maui Flash Flood Warning extended to 3:30 a.m.
12:18 a.m., Jan. 31, 2025

The National Weather Service has extended the Flash Flood Warning for the island of Maui in Maui County until 3:30 a.m. At 12:18 a.m., radar and rain gages indicated that heavy rainfall continues to move over Maui from the southwest. Peak rain rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour have been occurring along the south facing slopes of the island. The Maui Emergency Management Agency reported that Piʻilani Highway remains closed west of Kaupō. All of South Kīhei Road also remains closed. Heavy rainfall will continue on Maui over the next several hours. This warning may need to be extended beyond 3:30 a.m. if flooding persists.

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Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 1 a.m. Friday
Update: 7 p.m., Jan. 30, 2025

The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect until 1 a.m. on Jan. 31 for Kahului on Maui, Kaunakakai on Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi City on the island of Lānaʻi. There is also a Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect for the following adjacent coastal waters: the Kaiwi Channel, Maui County windward waters, Maui County leeward Waters, Māʻalaea Bay, Pailolo Channel and the ʻAlenuihāhā Channel. Severe thunderstorms can produce damaging winds of 58 mph or higher or destructive hail the size of quarters or larger.

Flash Flood Warning for Maui extended until 12:30 a.m.
Update: 9:18 p.m., 7:59 p.m., Jan. 30, 2025

The National Weather Service has extended a Flash Flood Warning for the island of Maui until 12:30 a.m. At 9:18 p.m., heavy rainfall continues over Maui with rain rates of 2-3 inches per hour moving over the central valley from Kīhei and Wailea toward the Upcountry region. The Maui Emergency Management Agency reported that South Kīhei Road has already been closed, and flooding has been reported in Lahaina. The Piʻilani Highway is also expected to become impassable at several locations west of Kaupō. Additional rainfall will be moving over Maui from the southwest over the next several hours. This warning may need to be extended beyond 12:30 a.m. if flooding persists.

At 7:59 p.m., rainfall was increasing over East Maui with peak rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour over the southeast and east slopes of Haleakalā. Additional rainfall is also starting to increase over West Maui. Flooding is expected to close the Piʻilani Highway west of Kaupō at several gulches. A high chance of flooding impacts is also expected from Māʻalaea to Wailea, and from Nāpili to ʻUkumehame.

Flash Flood Warning for Molokaʻi extended until 12:30 a.m.
9:09 p.m., 7:18 p.m., Jan. 30 2025

The National Weather Service has extended a Flash Flood Warning for the island of Molokaʻi until 12:30 a.m.

At 9:09 p.m., a band of intense rainfall was moving over east Molokaʻi near Kamalo and Pūkoʻo with rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour. The Kawela Gulch gage indicated water levels that result in the closure of Highway 450 at several locations from Kaunakakai to Pūkoʻo.

At 7:18 p.m., rainfall continues to increase across Molokaʻi with rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour over many parts of the island. Additional rainfall will continue to move over the area over the next several hours. Highway 450 will likely become impassable at multiple locations between Kaunakakai and Pūkoʻo.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include: Kaunakakai, Kualapuʻu, Hoʻolehua, Kalaupapa National Park, Kawela, Kamalo, Maunaloa, Ualapuʻe, Kepuhi, Pūkoʻo, Hālawa Valley and Molokaʻi Airport.

Special Weather Statement: severe thunderstorms to impact Maui County through 10 p.m.
9:03 p.m., Jan. 30 2025

Strong thunderstorms will impact Maui, Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi through 10 p.m. At 9:03 p.m., Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 5 miles northeast of Kalaupapa National Park to 5 miles south of Kamalo to 5 miles west of Mānele. Movement was northeast at 60 mph. Wind gusts were tracked at 50-55 mph.

Locations impacted include: Kahului, Kīhei, Lahaina, Lānaʻi City, Honokōhau, Wailuku, Waiheʻe, Kapalua, Puʻunēnē, Waikapū, Kalaupapa National Park, ʻUalapuʻe, Hālawa Valley, Waiehu, Kawela, Māʻalaea, Pūkoʻo, Kamalo, Nāpili-Honokōwai, and Kāʻanapali.

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1 a.m. for the entire state.

Flood Advisory for Lānaʻi until 10:30 p.m.
Update: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30, 2025

A Flood Advisory is in effect for the island of Lānaʻi until 10:30 p.m. At 7:27 p.m., radar indicated heavy rain over Lānaʻi with rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour. Rainfall is expected to continue for several hours as additional rainfall continues to move over the island from the southwest. A Flood Watch is also in effect for Maui County through Friday afternoon. This advisory may need to be extended beyond 10:30 p.m. if flooding persists.

Maui Flood Advisory until 9:30 p.m.
Update: 6:34 p.m., Jan. 30 2025

A Flood Advisory is in effect until 9:30 p.m. for the island of Maui due to fooding caused by excessive rainfall. At 6:30 p.m., radar and automated rain gauges indicated heavy rain over the slopes of Haleakalā. The highest rain rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour were near ʻUlupalakua and upslope from Kaupō. Additional heavy rainfall will also move over West Maui from the southwest over the next several hours. A Flood Watch is also in effect for Maui County through Friday afternoon. This advisory may need to be extended beyond 9:30 p.m. if flooding persists.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Molokaʻi until 7:45 p.m.
6:52 p.m., Jan. 30 2025

The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the island of Molokaʻi until 7:45 p.m. At 6:52 p.m., severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from 12 miles west of Kepuhi to 21 miles southeast of Hanauma Bay to 26 miles southeast of Niu Valley, moving northeast at 45 mph. This system has wind gust of 70 mph. Locations impacted include: Hoʻolehua, Maunaloa, Kualapuʻu, Kalaupapa National Park, Kamalo, Kaunakakai, Kepuhi, and Molokaʻi Airport.

Strong Thunderstorms over Molokaʻi
6:32 p.m., Jan. 30 2025

The National Weather Service reports that strong thunderstorms will impact the island of Molokaʻi through 7:30 p.m. At 6:32 p.m., Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 16 miles south of Hawaiʻi Kai to 25 miles south of Mānoa to 32 miles south of Honolulu. Movement was northeast at 45 mph. Wind gusts of 50-55 mph were reports. Locations impacted include: Hoʻolehua, Maunaloa, Kualapuʻu, Kepuhi, Kalaupapa National Park and Molokaʻi Airport.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

Special Marine Warning until 8:30 p.m.
Update: 6:23 p.m., Jan. 30 2025

The National Weather Service has issued a Special Marine Warning for: the ʻAlenuihāhā Channel, Kaiwi Channel, Māʻalaea Bay, Maui County Leeward Waters, Maui County Windward Waters, Oʻahu Leeward Waters, Oʻahu Windward Waters, and the Pailolo Channel until 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. At 6:23 p.m., severe thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts were located along a line extending from 41 nm north of FAD Buoy N to 26 nm southwest of FAD Buoy P, moving east at 20 knots.

There is also a High Wind Warning in effect until noon Friday and a Flood Watch through Friday afternoon.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 6 p.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect until 6 p.m. for Honolulu and Maui Counties including the cities of Honolulu, Kahului, Kaunakakai and Lānaʻi City. This means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Individuals in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings. Severe thunderstorms produce damaging winds of 58 mph or higher or destructive hail the size of quarters or larger.

There is also a High Wind Warning in effect until noon Friday and a Flood Watch through Friday afternoon.

Special Marine Warning until 3 p.m.
1:58 p.m., Jan. 30, 2025

The National Weather Service has issued a Special Marine Warning for: the Kaiwi Channel, Maui County Leeward Waters, Maui County Windward Waters, Oʻahu Leeward Waters and Oʻahu Windward Waters until 3 p.m. At 1:55 p.m., a line of strong to severe thunderstorm capable of producing waterspouts and large hail was located south and east of Oʻahu to north of Molokaʻi, within individual storms moving northeast at 35 knots. The strongest thunderstorms were located between 15 nm south of Honolulu to 40 nm southwest of Honolulu.

HAZARD…Waterspouts, wind gusts in excess of 50 knots, and large
hail.

Flood Warning for Oʻahu extended to 5 p.m.
Update: 1:36 p.m., 11:03 a.m., Jan. 30 2025

The National Weather Service in Honolulu has extended a Flash Flood Warning for the island of Oʻahu until 5 p.m. At 1:36 p.m., radar indicated heavy rain has temporarily subsided over Oʻahu. Additional redevelopment is expected to move quickly over Oʻahu from the south with rain rates up to 2 inches per hour. Flash flooding is ongoing over localized roadways across the island.

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National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Flood Watch and a High Wind Warning for portions of Maui County. The Flood Watch is in effect for all main Hawaiian Islands through Friday afternoon. South winds of 25 to 35 mph with localized gusts of more than 60 mph are expected. At the summit of Haleakalā, winds are forecast to be in the 45-65 mph range with gusts over 80 mph.

A vigorous low pressure system passing by north of the state will drag a cold front from northwest to southeast down the island chain through Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

The storm system will bring the threat for strong damaging south to southwest winds, severe thunderstorms, and flash flooding along and ahead of the front today through Friday.

Conditions will gradually improve with cooler and drier air building in behind the front Friday night through the weekend, according to the NWS. Cool and breezy trade wind weather is expected through the first half of next week.

*Check back for severe weather forecast updates, which will be posted here when they become available.