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Heavy showers leave drivers stranded on flooded roads, thousands without power

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COURTESY RYNO RYDER

A mudslide was reported at Kalanianaole Highway and Keolu Drive on Friday.

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COURTESY RYNO RYDER

Parts of Oahu got heavy rain Friday as the island was under a flash flood warning. Traffic backed up for miles as police closed Kalanianaole Highway due to flooding.

Heavy showers left thousands of Oahu residents in the dark and prompted the closure of Kalanianaole Highway on Friday evening.

A flash flood warning that lasted for approximately four hours brought road closures, mudslides, power outages, and thunderstorms that shook the island.

The National Weather Service reported flooding near Niu Valley on Kalanianaole Hwy., with cars stranded in over a foot of standing water, as rain was falling at a rate of 2 to 4 inches per hour.

Gages on Makawao stream, Manoa stream, and Pukele stream showed rapid rises in water levels, with rain falling at a rate of 2 to 3 inches inches per hour.

Locations in the warning included Hawaii Kai, Aina Haina, Waimanalo, Manoa, Maunawili, and Palolo.

Heavy rain has ended, but many roads remain flooded in Aina Haina, Hawaii Kai and Waimanalo.

Road closures:

>> At 11:45 p.m., Kalanianaole Highway was partially open in Waimanalo, and from Aina Haina to Hawaii Kai. The highway was completely closed earlier in the night at around 9 p.m. from Aina Haina to Makapuu due to flooding. At 9:30 p.m., a mudslide was reported at Kalanianaole Hwy. and Keolu Drive.

>> Tinker Road to Aloiloi Street remains closed due to flooding.

>> Police closed Maunaloa Avenue between 8th and 9th avenues due to downed power lines.

>> Just before 10 p.m., police closed Inoaole Street in Waimanalo by Sherwood Forest to Makapuu.

Power outages:

Hawaiian Electric reports multiple outages left more than 3,000 customers without electricity in Heeia, Kaneohe, Kailua, Waimanalo, Diamond Head, Kaimuki, Kapahulu, Waikiki, Manoa and other areas on the eastern side of the island. A damaged pole in Kailua caused by an earlier motor vehicle crash left an estimated 1,500 customers without power in Kailua.

>> At 9:50 p.m. Friday, Hawaiian Electric reported that power was restored to majority of the customers in the Kailua area. Around 90 customers now remain without power until the downed pole is replaced.

Other weather conditions:

>> A brown water advisory has been issued at eastern shores on Oahu.

Heavy rains 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.

>> A high surf advisory is in effect until 6 a.m. Sunday for north and west facing shores of Oahu, Kauai, Molokai and Niihau, and north facing shores of Maui and the Big Island.

A large northwest swell is quickly building down the island chain and is expected to peak Saturday morning near warning level along north and west facing shores. This swell is then expected to drop quickly Sunday.

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