Expect more rainy weather before the skies begin clearing for Christmas Day.
"It’s going to get wet again (Wednesday), but Christmas should be better," said Jeff Powell, lead forecaster at the National Weather Service. He said a cold front east of the islands was triggering the inclement weather, which prompted several watches and warnings in the islands.
The weather service predicted a dry area over Oahu would disappear Tuesday night, placing the entire state under the threat of heavy flooding rainfall. A flash-flood watch was in place for the entire state Tuesday night. It was expected to remain in effect until 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Also, a blizzard warning for Big Island summits is in effect until 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Christmas Day will be partly sunny with highs expected in the upper 70s.
Powell said it’s been cold the past few days because of northerly winds associated with a cold front near the islands.
"(The cold front) is going to slowly wash out over the next few days," Powell said. "It’ll slowly get warmer again."
On Kauai, Kuhio Highway was closed Tuesday in Hanalei because of flooding near the Hanalei River. Police posted signs warning motorists that Kuhio Highway was impassable at Manoa Stream, near Haena Beach Park, because of high water, according to a Kauai County news release.
The county activated its emergency operations center, and emergency responders were staged north of the Hanalei River. The American Red Cross opened an emergency shelter at Hanalei Elementary School.
In the 24-hour period ending at 5 p.m. Tuesday, 10 inches of rain fell in Kilohana on Kauai, 7 inches soaked Waiakoali, and 6 inches was recorded in Kokee, according to the Weather Service.
On Hawaii island, patchy ice and snow forced officials to close the road to the summit of Mauna Kea at the visitor information station, according to the Mauna Kea Weather Center. Conditions were to be reassessed Wednesday morning.
The chance of snow was expected to diminish for the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on Wednesday, but "very strong winds and bitterly cold wind chills" were expected, as were lightening strikes, the weather service said.
Temperatures were predicted to dip into the upper 20s, with winds blowing at between 45 and 65 mph, with gusts topping 90 mph.
The Weather Service said conditions will be "extremely hazardous and potentially life-threatening" for anyone attempting to drive or hike to the summits.
Also on Hawaii island, flooding closed Route 270 near Keokea Beach Park on Tuesday morning.
The weather service predicted that this weekend, northerly winds will shift to typical tradewinds and drier weather.
