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Heavy rains, thunderstorms pummel Oahu, Molokai

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
                                A man crosses ankle-deep floodwater today at the intersection of South King and Piikoi streets.
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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

A man crosses ankle-deep floodwater today at the intersection of South King and Piikoi streets.

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
                                Palm trees sway today in the pouring rain in the Punchbowl area.
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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM

Palm trees sway today in the pouring rain in the Punchbowl area.

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
                                Pedestrians with umbrellas cross Kamehameha Highway in the rain today in Aiea.
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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

Pedestrians with umbrellas cross Kamehameha Highway in the rain today in Aiea.

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
                                A man crosses ankle-deep floodwater today at the intersection of South King and Piikoi streets.
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
                                Palm trees sway today in the pouring rain in the Punchbowl area.
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
                                Pedestrians with umbrellas cross Kamehameha Highway in the rain today in Aiea.

UPDATE: 11:30 p.m.

The flood advisory for Molokai has been extended to 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

“At 11:17 p.m., radar indicated a large band of heavy rain continues to move across the island of Molokai tonight. Heavy rainfall is mainly over the eastern end of the Molokai near Kaunakakai and Pukoo. Heavy rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour,” the updated advisory said.

The flood advisory for Oahu has expired.

9:25 p.m.

The National Weather Service has issued flood advisories for Oahu and Molokai through late Monday night.

The advisory for Oahu is until midnight and covers Waipio, Wahiawa, Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Field, Mililani, Waialua, Kunia, Haleiwa, Waikele, Waipahu, Pearl City, Waianae, Nanakuli, Makakilo, Hauula, Punaluu, Waikane, Kapolei, Waiahole and Laie.

The advisory for Molokai is until 11:30 p.m. and covers the entire islands.

9:15 p.m.

A line of strong thunderstorms was hitting Oahu tonight, according to the National Weather Service.

The thunderstorms, with gusty winds of up to 45 mph, were expected to impact parts of Oahu through 10:45 p.m.

“At 9:09 pm, Doppler radar was tracking gusty showers along a line extending from near Kahuku to near Nanakuli. Movement was northeast at 10 mph,” the weather service said.

Affected locations include Waipio, Hauula, Mililani, Wahiawa, Waialua, Schofield Barracks, Laie, Punaluu, Waianae, Kunia, Wheeler Field, Kapolei, Waikele, Waikane, Barbers Point, Ewa Beach, Waiahole, Nanakuli, Pearl City, and Waipahu.

Earlier this evening, Molokai was briefly under a tornado warning as another strong line of storms passed over the island.

5:30 p.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood advisory for the island of Molokai until 8:30 p.m.

At 5:20 p.m., radar indicated heavy rain moving over Molokai from the west. Rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour.

Some locations that will experience flooding include Hoolehua, Kualapuu, Maunaloa, Kaunakakai, Kepuhi, Kalaupapa National Park, Kawela and Molokai Airport.

The public should stay away from streams, drainage ditches and low-lying areas prone to flooding.

Additionally, a high surf advisory has been issued for the north- and west-facing shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai, and for the north-facing shores of Maui, effective until 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Surf of 15 to 20 feet is expected along affected north shores. Surf of 8 to 12 feet is expected along affected west shores.

Strong, breaking waves and currents will make swimming dangerous.

4 p.m.

The flash flood warning for Oahu has been canceled as flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat.

A flood watch remains in effect until 6 p.m. Tuesday for Oahu, Hawaii island, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, Niihau and Kahoolawe.

2:30 p.m.

The flash flood warning has been extended for Oahu until 5:30 p.m. today.

At 2:10 p.m., the radar indicated heavy rain pouring over south Central Oahu and slowly heading eastward with rain falling at a rate of 2 to 3 inches per hour.

The flash flood watch for all Hawaiian Islands remains in effect through Tuesday afternoon.

Strong shower bands are moving into Kauai and Oahu along with isolated thunderstorms before spreading to Maui County this afternoon, forecasters said.

“Models show wet and unstable weather spreading eastward across the state through Tuesday as the front moves through,” forecasters said. “This front will slowly weaken as it travels eastward down the island chain. Strong prefrontal southwesterlies may enhance downslope wind gusts along north and east slopes of island mountains.”

Hawaii island will likely see more rainfall along the southern slopes with heavy showers and a potential for thunderstorms lasting through Tuesday night, forecasters said.

“Weather will briefly improve across each island, in turn, after frontal passage from late Tuesday near Kauai to Wednesday for Oahu and Maui County,” according to the forecast. “The Big Island will see lingering showers on Wednesday with improvement forecast from Wednesday night into Thursday. Another front is forecast to move into the islands from the northwest, with showers spreading down the island chain from Thursday through Friday. Improving weather is forecast statewide from Friday night into next weekend.”

12:54 p.m.

A flash flood warning has been issued for Oahu until 3:45 p.m.

At 12:44 p.m., the radar indicated heavy rain over Leeward, Central and North Shore of Oahu with rain falling at a rate of 2 to 3 inches per hour.

Forecasters warned of flash flooding caused by heavy rain.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include Waipio, Wahiawa, Wheeler Field, Schofield Barracks, Mililani, Kunia, Waikele, Waipahu, Pearl City, Waialua, Haleiwa, Waianae, Nanakuli, Makakilo, Aiea, Waikane, Kapolei, Halawa, Waiahole and Ewa Beach.

10:30 a.m.

The flood advisory has been extended for Oahu until 1:30 p.m. today.

Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues, forecasters said.

At 10:16 a.m., the radar indicated heavy rain falling over Leeward Oahu at a rate of 1.5 to 2.5 inches per hour.

Some locations that will experience flooding include Waipio, Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Field, Wahiawa, Mililani, Kunia, Waialua, Waikele, Haleiwa, Waipahu, Waianae, Pearl City, Nanakuli, Makakilo, Kapolei, Aiea, Ewa Beach, Waikane, Hauula and Punaluu.

The flood watch for all Hawaiian Islands is also in effect through 6 p.m. Tuesday.

7:40 a.m.

The National Weather Service has extended the flood advisory for Oahu until 10:30 a.m. today as a storm front continues moving east over the island.

“At 7:18 a.m., radar indicated heavy rain over Leeward Oahu, with the heaviest rain falling between Makua Valley and Maili,” the latest advisory said. “Rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour.”

The advisory covers Waipio, Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Field, Wahiawa, Mililani, Kunia, Waialua, Waikele, Haleiwa, Waipahu, Waianae, Pearl City, Nanakuli, Makakilo, Kapolei, Aiea, Ewa Beach, Waikane, Hauula and Punaluu, forecasters said.

The entire state remains under a flood watch through Tuesday afternoon.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

Oahu is under a flash flood advisory this morning and the entire state remains under a flood watch as a storm system moves over the island chain from the west.

The National Weather Service’s flood advisory for Oahu is in effect until 7:30 a.m.

“At 4:21 a.m., radar indicated heavy rain over Leeward Oahu, with the heaviest rain falling between Kaena Point and Nanakuli. Rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 1.5 inches per hour,” the advisory said.

The advisory area includes Waipio, Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Field, Wahiawa, Mililani, Kunia, Waialua, Waikele, Haleiwa, Waipahu, Waianae, Pearl City, Nanakuli, Makakilo, Kapolei, Aiea, Ewa Beach, Waikane, Hauula and Punaluu.

The flood watch, meanwhile, in in effect until Tuesday afternoon as a “cold front near Kauai this morning will continue to move eastward spreading heavy showers and thunderstorms down the island chain through Tuesday. Convective heavy shower bands may persist over some islands, especially along the frontal cloud band, increasing the threat for flash flooding statewide,” according to forecasters.

The weather service also said a “second frontal system brings another round of wet weather swiftly through the island chain from Thursday through Friday. Weather conditions will improve just in time for the upcoming weekend.”

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