Stormy weather over the islands Thursday has prompted a statewide flood watch as hot, humid weather linked to Hurricane Ignacio continues to generate showers and thunderstorms.

The flood watch will be in effect until 6 p.m. Friday. A flash flood warning for Oahu, which took effect midday was canceled at 5 p.m.

"A humid and unstable air mass will support locally heavy showers and thunderstorms through this evening, and possibly over the next couple of days," the National Weather Service said. 

Heavy showers and thunderstorms drenched Honolulu and central and windward Oahu. Flood waters have been reported on roads in Kalihi and Iwilei, where the Dole Cannery was evacuated because of flooding.

Dole Cannery tenants were told that flooding on the property couldn’t be contained, and that water had entered the first floor of the building including electrical rooms. The evacuation included Dole Office Building, Castle & Cooke Building, the Shops at Dole Cannery and the 801 Building.

The city has opened a shelter for homeless living along Kapalama Canal at Kalakaua District Park. The city Department of Emergency Management and the American Red Cross provided a bus or buses to get them to the shelter. 

The Honolulu Department of Emergency Management said heavy ponding was reported on the H-1 freeway and the Moanalua Freeway and urged drivers to travel with their headlights on until the rains ease.

Localized flooding was also reported in Kalihi at Dillingham and Alakawa, on the H-1 westbound onramp and offramp and the H-1 westbound School Street onramp and offramp. The Department of Emergency Management said there was 6 to 8 inches of water around the intersection of Dillingham and Alakawa and urged drivers to avoid the area.

At Iolani Palace, water was being pumped out of the moat surrounding the historic building on South King Street. 

“We’re just trying to keep the water level down as it continues to rain,” said Kippen de Alba Chu, Iolani Palace executive director. “But no damage. Water has not entered the palace at all. This is a proactive measure.” 

De Alba Chu added that a second pump was purchased as an insurance measure. 

Meanwhile, the Med-QUEST office on Dillingham Boulevard was temporarily closed due to leaking and flooding in the area. Honolulu Fire officials recommended that the building and others in the area be evacuated. 

The Department of Human Services said it was continuing to assess the situation and would reopen as soon the building is deemed safe for occupation. 

Individuals who need to apply for Medicaid on Oahu may still do so at the online portal: mybenefits.hawaii.gov or by calling 1-877-628-5076. 

Hawaiian Electric Co. reported multiple power outages. 

About 300 customers were without electricity near Kewalo Basin and about 1,400 customers were in the dark in the Pearl City/Waimalu area, said HECO spokesman Darren Pai. 

Matthew Foster, a meteorologist with the Honolulu office of the National Weather Service, advised fans attending the game to bring rain coats. Umbrellas are not allowed in the stadium.

Heavy rains early Thursday morning over Oahu slowed the morning commute. Roads were slick and traffic was slow on the H-1 freeway.

A high surf warning also remains in effect for east shores of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and Hawaii island because of waves created by hurricanes Ignacio and Jimena.

Surf on east shores is forecast to reach 10 to 15 feet Thursday, decreasing to 8 to 12 feet Thursday night and Friday.

The warning could be extended or reinstated as surf generated by Jimena increases.

A small craft advisory remains in effect until 6 p.m. Friday after large swells associated with Jimena are expected to continue. 

On Kauai, east-facing beaches from Anatolia to Lydgate Beach Park remained closed for a third day. North shore beaches west of Halanei are also closed for swimming because of high surf. Swimming is allowed at Poipu Beach, except for Nukumoi Point, where a strong rip current formed.

As Ignacio, which reached hurricane status overnight before weakening back to a tropical storm, moves to the northwest of the islands, waves created during its passage are shifting from the northeast to the northwest. Forecasters are monitoring the surf, but for now, they do not expect the north shore waves to reach advisory levels.

Typhoon Kilo, in the West Pacific, is generating a small swell on west shores and a storm last week in the southern hemisphere is bringing waves to south shores. Those waves could reach advisory-level heights on south shores Friday.

Wave heights on north shores is expected to be 6 to 9 feet Thursday, and 4 to 6 feet Friday. West shores should see 3- to 5-foot surf and south shore waves will be 5 to 7 feet Thursday, rising to 8 feet Friday.

At 11 p.m. Thursday, Ignacio was about 785 miles north-northwest of Honolulu, while Jimena was about 865 miles east of Honolulu.

Ignacio was moving north-northwest at 13 mph with sustained winds of 75 mph. Forecasters expect Ignacio to continue to weaken and follow a path west toward Canada’s west coast.

Jimena decreased to a category 1 hurricane with 90 mph winds Thursday evening. Hurricane-force winds extend 45 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds go out to 185 miles from the center.

Jimena was moving northwest at 5 mph.

It’s still too early to say exactly how Jimena will affect Hawaii’s weather. It could bring a greater chance of rains late next week.

But it won’t bring any relief from the muggy conditions and wet weather of the last few weeks.

"Ignacio moves out and Jimena moves back in, blocking our trades," Foster said. "We’re expecting it to stay in this wet weather pattern with light winds and high humidity."

The forecast for south shores of Oahu, including Honolulu and Aloha Stadium, calls for a 50 percent chance of showers Thursday night and Friday. Some showers could be locally heavy.

Volcanic haze from the Big Island is expected to move over Oahu and the other smaller islands over the weekend. The vog will continue through Labor Day, which should be mostly sunny with isolated showers.