Wet Weather Continues Over Western Portion of State

Rain clouds, photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

(Update: 7 p.m. 3/5/12)

The Flood Advisory for Maui has been extended until 9:45 p.m.

At 6:30 p.m., the National Weather Service reported radar showing moderate to heavy rain over East Maui from Kipahulu to Hana. The area of rainfall was nearly stationary. Otehr locations in the advisory include, but are not limited to Hamoa and Nahiku.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has also been issued for Maui and Honolulu Counties until 1 a.m. on Tuesday, 3/6/12. A similar Watch was issued for Kauai County until 10 p.m. tonight.

A severe thunderstorm watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.

The conditions are capable of producing winds upwards of 58 mph.

The watch is also in effect for windward and leeward waters of both Oahu and Maui as well as the Kaiwi and Pailolo Channels, and Maalaea Bay.

(Update: 3:59 p.m. 3/5/12)

A Flood Advisory has been extended for the island of Maui until 6:45 p.m.

At around 3:30 p.m., radar showed heavy showers continuing to fall along the southeast slopes of Haleakala, especially over and up-slope of Hana.

On Kauai, a Flash Flood Warning was extended until 5:45 p.m., and a Severe Thunderstorm Watch was issued until 10 p.m.

The island’s Kuhio Highway also was the subject of an emergency proclamation, signed by the governor.

(Update: 12:44 p.m. 3/5/12)

A flood advisory for the island of Maui has been extended until 3:45 p.m.

Just before 12:30 p.m, radar showed heavy rain from a strong thunderstorm near Ulupalakua moving toward Haleakala National Park.

The National Weather Service reported moderate to heavy rain also occurring over the leeward west Maui area.

Additional rainfall may move over Maui from the southwest over the next several hours.

(Update: 12:08 p.m.)

A flash flood warning has been extended for the island of Kauai until 2:45 p.m.

At 11:26 a.m., heavy rainfall was reported over the north and east portions of the island.

Kuhio Highway remains closed at the Hanalei River Bridge, with additional rainfall expected to move over windward Kauai over the next several hours.

The National Weather Service received reports of a spotter recording over three inches of rain in Wailua over the past hour.

Here on Maui, a waterspout was reported in waters north of Kahului, where a flood advisory remains in effect until 12:45 p.m.

The flood advisory for the island of Lanai is set to expire at 12:15 p.m. Radar showed that heavy rainfall has since moved offshore of Lanai.

A flash flood watch remains in effect for Maui County through Tuesday afternoon.

(Update: 9:51 a.m. 3/5/12)

A flood advisory has been issued for the islands of Maui and Lanai as wet weather approaches Maui County.

The Maui flood advisory remains in effect until 12:45 p.m.

At 9:36 a.m., radar showed moderate to heavy rain over portions of West Maui and over East Maui near Oheo Gulch.

Forecasters from the National Weather Service say additional rainfall will move over the island of Maui from the southwest over the next several hours.

Map courtesy National Weather Service & NOAA. 3/5/12. 9:59 a.m.

(Update: 9:35 a.m. 3/5/12)

A flood advisory has been issued for the island of Lanai in Maui County until 12:15 p.m.

At 9:16 a.m., radar showed moderate to heavy rain moving over Lanai from the Southwest.

Forecasters from the National Weather Service say additional rainfall will continue to move over the island over the next several hours.

Other locations in the advisory include but are not limited to Lanai City, Manele, Kamalapau, and Koele.

On other islands, flash flood warnings have been extended for the islands of Kauai (until 11:45 a.m.) and Oahu (until 12:30 p.m.), as heavy rains continue to impact the western portion of the state.

(Update: 9:19 a.m. 3/5/12)

A flash flood warning has been extended for the island of Oahu until 12:30 p.m.

Earlier heavy rainfall has moved offshore, but another area of heavy rain is expected to move over Oahu from the south within the next hour, according to forecasters from the National Weather Service.

Other areas in the warning area includePunaluu, Waiahole, Waipio, Waikane, Wahiawa, Mililani, Waipahu, Pearl City, Aiea, Honolulu, Kailua and Kaneohe.

(Update: 9:05 a.m. 3/5/12)

The flash flood warning for the island of Kauai has been extended to 11:45 a.m.

At 8:20 a.m., the National Weather Service reported heavy rain once again developing over the north and east portions of the Garden Isle, with rain gauges indicating rates of 1-2 inches per hour.

The rain gauge at Hanalei River showed a new increase in water levels.

The Kuhio Highway at the Hanalei River and near Haena Beach Park remained closed at last report, with heavy ponding also reported near the Kalihiwai Bridge.

(Update: 8:03 a.m. 3/5/12)

A flash flood warning remains in effect for the Island of Oahu until 9:30 a.m. Emergency managers reported that Kapaa Quarry Road has been closed due to flooding. Another area of heavy rain has reached South and East Oahu according to forecasters with the National Weather Service. They say urban flooding problems from this rain are expected to occur from Hawaii Kai to Pearl City.

(Update: 6:55 a.m. 3/5/12)

Waiahole Elementary on Oahu was added to the school closure list for today due to flooding of roads. Earlier today, the DOE announced the closure of Hanalei Elementary School on Kauai due to the inclement weather.

(Posted: 6:51 a.m. 3/5/12)

There are flash flood warnings in effect for both Kauai and Honolulu this morning as heavy rains continue to impact the western portion of the state.

The Flood Warning for Oahu was extended to 9:30 a.m., and the Kauai Warning remains in effect until 8:45 a.m.  The warnings may be extended if heavy rains persist.

On Oahu, the Waikane Stream overflowed on the Kamehameha Highway this morning.

On Kauai, heavy rains and flooding forced the closure of the Kuhio Highway with the Hanalei River near flood levels at last report. Hanalei Elementary School is also closed today because of the wet weather conditions.

Here on Maui, there’s a 30% chance of showers.  We can expect mostly cloudy skies today, with highs near 81 degrees, and South winds blowing at 11 mph.