Maui severe weather updates for Friday, Jan. 31, 2025

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Wind Advisory until noon for parts of Maui County
Update: 4:50 a.m. Jan. 31, 2025

A Wind Advisory remains in effect until noon today with southwest winds blowing at 20-30 mph with 50 mph gusts. This is for portions of Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi and Kahoʻolawe. Winds this strong can tear off shingles, knock down tree branches, blow away tents and awnings and make it difficult to steer, especially for drivers of high profile vehicles. The public is advised to watch out for falling tree branches when walking or driving. Make sure tents and awnings are secure or take them down. Be prepared for power outages.

Flash Flood Warning canceled for Maui;
Flood Watch remains until 6 p.m.
4:44 a.m., Jan. 31 2025

The Flash Flood Warning that was in effect for the island of Maui is canceled. The heavy rain has ended and flooding will continue to diminish. A Flood Watch remains in effect until 6 p.m. Friday for Maui and the Big Island of Hawaiʻi.

Big Island Flood Advisory until 1:30 p.m.
10:37 a.m., Jan. 31, 2025

A Flood Advisory is in effect until 1:30 p.m. for the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, replacing a Flood Warning that has since expired. At 10:33 a.m., radar and automated rain gauges indicate rain has begun to taper off over the west and south sides of the Big Island. Rain rates are around 1 inch per hour, with additional rain expected into the early afternoon hours. Area streams have started to subside, but remain elevated.

Some locations that will experience flooding include: Kailua-Kona, Captain Cook, Waikoloa Village, Kapaʻau, Pōhakuloa Training Area, Hōnaunau, Kealakekua, Kainaliu, Honalo, Holualoa, Kahaluu-Keauhou, Wood Valley, Puʻuanahulu, Kalaoa, Pāhala, Punaluʻu Beach, Hawaiian Ocean View, Kawa Flats, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Nāʻālehu.

This advisory may need to be extended beyond 1:30 p.m. if flooding persists.

Flood Warning for Big Island replaced with Flood Advisory
10:37 a.m., Jan. 31, 2025

The Flash Flood Warning that was in effect for the Big Island of Hawaiʻi has since been replaced with a Flood Advisory. Rain rates have tapered off, according to the National Weather Service.

Flash Flood Warning for Hawai’i Island until 11 a.m.
Update: 7:59 a.m. Jan. 31, 2025

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Hawaiʻi Island until 11 a.m. At 7:59 a.m., radar and rain gages indicated heavy rainfall over the west and south sides of the Big Island. Peak rain rates of up to 2 inches were moving onshore. Area streams remain elevated, and additional rainfall is likely to continue to move over the Big Island from the southwest this morning.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include: Kailua-Kona, Captain Cook, Waikoloa Village, Kapaʻau, Pōhakuloa Training Area, Hōnaunau, Kealakekua, Kainaliu, Honalo, Holualoa, Kahaluʻu-Keauhou, Wood Valley, Puʻuanahulu, Kalaoa, Pāhala, Punaluʻu Beach, Hawaiian Ocean View, Kawa Flats, Nāʻālehu and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Stay away from streams, rivers, drainage ditches, and culverts, even if they are currently dry.

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Maui Flash Flood Warning extended to 6:30 a.m.
3:18 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 6:30 a.m. At 3:18 a.m., although rainfall has eased, stream levels remain elevated across portions of east Maui and Piʻilani Highway remains closed west of Kaupō.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include: Kīpahulu, Kaupō, Nāhiku, Keʻanae, Kula, Kēōkea, Makawao, Hāna, Huelo, Haʻikū-Paʻuwela, Haleakalā National Park, Wailua, Kailua and Hāmoa. As a precaution, the public is advised to stay away from streams, rivers, drainage ditches, and culverts, even if they are currently dry.

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.

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 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.

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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.