WET WEATHER UPDATES: Flood Watch Extended to 6 p.m. Tuesday

August 22, 2015, 6:03 AM HST
* Updated August 25, 10:03 AM

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7 a.m. radar, 8/24/15. Credit: NOAA/NWS.

By Wendy Osher and Meteorologist Malika Dudley

FLOOD WATCH FOR MAUI COUNTY UNTIL 6 P.M. Tuesday 8/25/15

The National Weather Service has extended a Flash Flood Watch for Maui County through 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015. Forecasters with the NWS say an unstable and very moist air mass remains over the Hawaiian Islands.

According to the NWS, this tropical moisture interacting with island terrain will produce “localized, intense, slow-moving downpours that may lead to flash flooding.”

SCHOOL CLOSURES: School cancelled for Doris Todd Christian Academy in Pāʻia, Hāna School in East Maui, and Kilohana School on Molokaʻi for Monday, August 24 due to inclement weather.

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ROAD CLOSURES:

UPDATE, ROAD CLOSURES: 9:10 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015.

Piʻilani Hwy – 31 – between Mile 38 and 25 (Kaupō to Kanaio) is CLOSED due to large landslide at Mile 37. County crews are clearing the roadway.
ʻUlaʻino Rd and Waikoloa Rd in Hāna are also CLOSED.

*All other roads are OPEN.

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At 6:34 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, the Maui Civil Defense agency reported that the Hāna Highway was impassable between Mile Markers 29 and 36 due to streams having overtopped bridges in at least three locations.

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As of 11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, Maui Police Department reported that Hāna Highway between Twin Falls and Hāna Ranch was OPEN. MPD also reported small rocks and other debris on the roadway near Kīpahulu and Honomanū, as well as the following road closures:

County crews open up the Hāna Highway from Hāna Town to Kīpahulu; however Kīpahulu to ʻUlupalakua remains closed.
Piʻilani Highway (31) MP 38 – 25 (Kīpahulu/Kaupō area): The road is closed and impassable. There are numerous landslides and streams flowing over the road.
ʻUlaʻino Road: The road is closed. Roadway has washed out at Mahele Farms and is impassable to vehicles.
Waikoloa Road: The road is closed. Waikoloa stream is running steadily.

FACILITY CLOSURES: Access to the summit of Haleakalā is closed until further notice due to severe weather conditions. The Kīpahulu District is inaccessible due to flooding on the Hāna Highway. Other closures include the Waiehu Golf Course, Mākena State Park, ʻĪao Valley State Park and Waiʻānapanapa.

POWER OUTAGE EAST END OF MOLOKAI: 7:49 a.m.,Aug. 24, 2015.

At 5:06 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, approximately 1460 residents on Molokaʻi’s East end lost power when a tree brought down electrical lines on Kamehameha Highway. Power was restored to all affected customers shortly after 8 a.m. Maui Electric thanked customers for their patience and reminds the public during these storm conditions to use caution on the roadways. Should you see a downed line, stay clear and call Maui Electric at 1-877-871-8461 on Molokaʻi or Lānaʻi or (808) 871-7777 on Maui. In an emergency, dial 9-1-1.

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*For video of the light show visit our Maui Now Facebook page.

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*Click here for the latest Kilo Update.

PRIOR REPORTS:

Flood Warning for Maui 8/24/15. Image: NWS/NOAA.

FLOOD WARNING EXTENDED UNTIL 1 P.M. FOR MAUI
The National Weather Service has extended a Flash Flood Warning for the island of Maui until 1 p.m. At 9:44 a.m., radar showed that heavy rainfall had diminished, but runoff remained high, and flooding conditions were ongoing. The Piʻilani Highway remains closed near mile 38-39; and the Hāna Highway remains closed between Mile 29 and 36. Kīpahulu is inaccessible due to flooding. The public is advised to avoid an unnecessary travel in the area. The Warning includes: Pukalani, Nāhiku, Makawao, Kīhei Keʻanae, Wailea and Hāna.

FLOOD WATCH FOR MAUI COUNTY UNTIL 6 P.M. 8/24/15

The National Weather Service has expanded a Flash Flood Watch to include the islands of Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi until 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, 2015.

Forecasters with the NWS say a very moist air mass to the northeast of Tropical Depression Kilo is spreading across the main Hawaiian Islands.

According to the NWS, this tropical moisture interacting with island terrain will produce “localized, intense, slow-moving downpours that may lead to flash flooding.”

The watch may be expanded to other islands as forecasters and hydrologists monitor the track and intensity of Kilo. The system continues to make its way in the northwest direction.

Please check back with us here as we continue to update you with the latest weather related developments.

FLOOD WARNING EXTENDED UNTIL 10 A.M. FOR MAUI

The National Weather Service has extended a Flash Flood Warning for the island of Maui until 10 a.m. Rainfall rates over east Maui have diminished, but runoff levels remain high and additional rainfall was moving toward the Kīhei and Wailea areas from the South.

LANAI UNDER FLOOD ADVISORY UNTIL 10:45 A.M. 8/24/15

The National Weather Service has extended the Flood Advisory for the Island of Lānaʻi until 10:45 a.m. At 7:15 a.m., the NWS says radar showed moderate to heavy rain over the island. Additional rain was located just offshore and is expected to move onshore over the next hour.

FLOOD ADVISORY FOR MOLOKAI UNTIL 8:45 A.M. 8/24/15

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Advisory for the Island of Molokaʻi until 8:45 a.m. AT 5:46 a.m., a gauge at Hālawa Stream showed rising water levels. Radar rainfall estimates over East Molokaʻi were up to 1 inch per hour. Other locations in the advisory include: Kalaupapa, Kamalo, Hālawa Valley and Highway 450 East of Kaunakakai.

LANAI UNDER FLOOD ADVISORY UNTIL 7:45 A.M. 8/24/15

The National Weather Service has extended the Flood Advisory for the Island of Lānaʻi until 7:45 a.m. At 4:20 a.m., radar showed moderate rain over the island with a new area of moderate to heavy rain moving toward the island from the southeast.

FLASH FLOOD WARNING EXTENDED FOR MAUI UNTIL 7 A.M. 8/24/15

The National Weather Service has extended a Flash Flood Warning for Maui until 7 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, 2015.

The NWS says radar at 4:45 a.m. indicated heavy rain continuing over east Maui near Hāna. Rain was falling at a rate of more than 4 inches per hour over the slopes between Hāna Town and the Hāna Airport. Kawaipapa Gulch near Hāna Town is likely to be running very high. The NWS says additional heavy rain was moving toward East Maui from the southeast. The public is advised to avoid any unnecessary travel in the area, especially along the Hāna Highway near Hāna town and nearby roads. Locations in the warning area include: Kula, Pukalani, Nāhiku, Makawao, Kīhei, Keʻanae and Hāna.

UPDATE: A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH has been issued for Maui through 4 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, 2015.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Severe thunderstorms produce damaging winds of 58 mph or higher or destructive hail the size of quarters or larger.

ROAD CLOSURE: Piʻilani Hwy. (31) in the area MP-38 and ʻUlaʻino Rd. in Hāna is closed in both directions due to flooding across the roadway. The closure went into effect at around 10 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015.

FLOOD ADVISORY FOR LANAI UNTIL 4:45 AM

At 1:36 a.m., radarshowed heavy rain 6 miles west of Kaiolohi or “Shipwreck Beach (about 35 miles west of Kahului, Maui)

FLOOD WARNING POSTED FOR MOLOKAʻI Extended until 3:15 a.m. on 8/24/15.

At 12:18 a.m. radar showed heavy rain near Kaunakakai moving northeast at 5 mph. Radar estimated rainfall totals indicated 2 to 3 inches over the past hour. Additional accumulations of 1 to 2 inches will remain possible over the upcoming few hours.

FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR PARTS OF MAUI / By Meteorologist Malika Dudley

The National Weather Service has issued yet another Flood Warning for the island of Maui. This one is posted through 11:15 p.m. Radar is showing heavy rain lingering near Hāna, Kaupō and Kīpahulu where previous flash flooding was reported. These areas of heavy rain remain nearly stationary.

The National Weather Service says other areas in the warning include, but are not limited to, Hāmoa, Nāhiku, Olowalu and Lahaina.

(Update: 5:23 a.m. 8/23/15)

The Flood Warnings that were in place for Maui and Molokaʻi have since expired, but a Flood Watch remains in effect for the entire state through 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, 2015.

Forecasters with the NWS say a very moist air mass to the northeast of Tropical Depression Kilo is spreading across the main Hawaiian Islands.

According to the NWS, this tropical moisture interacting with island terrain will produce “localized, intense, slow-moving downpours that may lead to flash flooding.”

Maui Now has also received reports of thunder and lighting in various parts of the island overnight including widespread reports out of Wailuku and Lahiana.

Please check back with us here as we continue to update you with the latest weather related developments.

*For video of the light show visit our Maui Now Facebook page.

*Click here for the latest Kilo Update.

(Update: 9:45 p.m.; 8:44 p.m., 8/22/15)

The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Warning for the island of Maui until 11:45 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, and a Flood Advisory for Molokaʻi until 12:45 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015.

At 8:36 p.m. radar showed heavy rain

View of lighting in Waiehu looking south. Image credit: Jackie Wong.

with rainfall rates over 4 inches in an hour just east of ʻUlupalakua on Maui.

Maui Now has also recieved reports of thunder and lighting in various parts of the island including Wailuku and Lahiana.

On Molokaʻi, the NWS states that radar at 9:36 a.m. showed heavy rain near Halawa Valley, located about 28 miles NW of Kahului.

*For video of the light show visit our Maui Now Facebook page.

*Click here for the latest Kilo Update.

*Pacific Media Group News Director Wendy Osher contributed to this report.

(Update: 10:49 a.m.; 9:40 a.m. 8/22/15)

The National Weather Service has expanded a Flash Flood Watch to include the islands of Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi until 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, 2015.

Forecasters with the NWS say a very moist air mass to the northeast of Tropical Depression Kilo is spreading across the main Hawaiian Islands.

According to the NWS, this tropical moisture interacting with island terrain will produce “localized, intense, slow-moving downpours that may lead to flash flooding.”

The watch may be expanded to other islands as forecasters and hydrologists monitor the track and intensity of Kilo. The system continues to make its way in the northwest direction.

Please check back with us here as we continue to update you with the latest weather related developments.

*Click here for the latest Kilo Update.

*Pacific Media Group News Director Wendy Osher contributed to this report.

(Update: 8/22/15)

The National Weather Service reports a gage on Honopou stream showed a rapid rise in water level from heavy rain 6 miles southwest of Keanae. A Flood Warning has been issued through 8:00 a.m. for parts of Maui.

The area of heavy rain was nearly stationary. Other locations in the warning include, but are not limited to, Pukalani, Pauwela, Paia, Nahiku, Makawao, Haliimaile and Haiku.

This warning replaces the Flood Advisory that was previously in effect for the area and could be extended if heavy rain continues.

A Flood Warning means flooding is already occurring in the designated alert area. The National Weather Service reminds residents to, “Turn around, don’t drown.”