Hawaii can expect better weather for Halloween as rains ease

UPDATE: 5:45 p.m.

Forecasters say the weather conditions that have drenched most of the state over the last few days should improve this evening through Friday.

Still, some localized downpours will continue for windward areas through Friday, especially for East Maui and Hawaii island.

“For Oahu and Kauai, fair trade wind weather will persist over the next few days,” National Weather Service forecasters said. “Breezy to locally strong trades will fill in Sunday afternoon and persist through early next week.”

A flood watch in effect for Maui County and the Big Island is expected to expire at 6 p.m. “The current heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms should taper off over the next few hours,” they said late this afternoon.

“For Halloween, weather conditions should generally be fair across the state with gentle to moderate tradewinds.”

5:30 p.m.

The flash flood warning for East Maui has expired as rains ease, but the warning for northeast section of Hawaii island remains in effect until 7 p.m.

Maui County and Hawaii island remain under a flood watch until 6 p.m.

4:25 p.m.

A large swath of Hawaii island is under a flash flood warning through 7 p.m. and National Weather Service forecasters are also warning of strong thunderstorms for the Volcano area.

“At 4:11 p.m., Doppler radar indicated heavy rain over windward Big Island,” the flood warning said. “Rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 3 inches per hour with the heaviest rainfall over the Hilo districts. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.”

The warning covers Hilo, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Kapaau, Honokaa, Honomu, Papaikou, Pepeekeo, Hakalau, Ninole, Laupahoehoe, Mountain View and Glenwood.

In addition, the NWS issued a special weather system warning of strong thunderstorms threatening Pahala, Wood Valley, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and Volcano until 4:45 p.m.

“At 3:50 p.m., Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7 miles northeast of Wood Valley, or 31 miles southwest of Hilo, moving southeast at 5 mph,” the statement said. Wind gusts up to 40 mph were expected and “could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects,” forecasters said.

“If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle,” they said.

East Maui remains under a flash flood warning until 5:45 p.m. Maui County and Hawaii island remain under a flood watch.

3 p.m.

The National Weather Service has extended the flash flood warning for East Maui until 5:45 p.m.

At 2:35 p.m., the Doppler radar indicated heavy rain over East Maui with rainfall rates of 0.5 to 1.5 inches per hour. The heaviest rain was over the far eastern end of Maui near Hamoa and Hana.

Forecasters said flash flooding is ongoing, and that the nearly stationary band of rain will likely persist over the eastern end of Maui for a few more hours.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include Kipahulu, Nahiku, Kaupo, Hana, Keanae, Haleakala National Park, Wailua, Hamoa and Kailua.

“Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads,” said NWS in a statement. “Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.”

A flood advisory remains for Windward Hawaii island until 5 p.m.

At 2:04 p.m., the doppler rader showed heavy rainfall over Windward Hawaii island with rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour. The heaviest rainfall was over the Hilo and Puna districts.

Some locations that will experience flooding include Hilo, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Kapaau, Honokaa, Honomu, Papaikou,

Pepeekeo, Hakalau, Ninole, Laupahoehoe, Mountain View and Glenwood.

Noon

Maui emergency officials issued an evacuation warning for the Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park at 10:43 a.m. because of flash flooding and other hazards, the Maui Emergency Management Agency said.

The agency issued the warning at the request of the National Park Service. An evacuation warning means there is a potential threat to life or property, and people who need extra time, or who have livestock or pets, may want to leave early. It is a step below an evacuation order, which means leave now.

The National Weather Service extended the flash flood warning for the island of Maui until 2:45 p.m.

As of 11:26 a.m., radar showed rain falling at 0.5 to 1.5 inches an hour and barely moving along the eastern side of Haleakala.

Forecasters said flash flooding was ongoing and that more bands of moderate to heavy rain were expected over the next few hours. Streams, small creeks, highways, streets, underpasses and low-lying areas could flood. Keanae, Nahiku, Kipahulu, Kaupo, Huelo, Makawao, Hana, Pukalani, Haiku-Pauwela and Haliimaile are among the areas affected.

A separate flood advisory is in effect until 1:45 p.m. for the windward slopes of the West Maui Mountains, where forecasters said minor flooding was ongoing or about to begin. Rain there was falling at 0.5 to 1 inch an hour. Kahului, Wailuku, Waikapu, Waihee, Waiehu, Kahakuloa, Honokohau, Kapalua, Napili-Honokowai, Kaanapali and Honolua Bay could see flooding.

A temporary evacuation point opened Wednesday night at Helene Hall, 174 Keawa Place in Hana, and will stay open until the flash flood threat passes, the county said. It is a safe place to gather but does not have the supplies of a regular shelter, so people should bring essentials. Pets are allowed only in crates or cages.

Residents can check whether their neighborhood is under an evacuation warning or advisory on the Genasys Protect app at protect.genasys.com. People who must leave because of flooding only need to move to nearby higher ground or a close shelter, the county said. That helps avoid getting stuck on fragile or crowded roads.

The flood watch for Maui County and the Big Island remains in effect through 6 p.m. Forecasters urged people to turn around instead of driving through flooded roads, noting that most flood deaths occur in vehicles.

9:30 a.m.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for Maui until 11:45 a.m. today as heavy rain continued over the island’s windward and southeast sides.

Radar at 8:55 a.m. showed rain falling at 1 to 2 inches an hour along the eastern slopes of Haleakala, where streams, including Oheo Gulch, were steadily rising. Flash flooding was ongoing or expected to begin shortly, forecasters said.

The warning covers the entire island. Areas at risk include Keanae, Nahiku, Kipahulu, Kaupo, Huelo, Makawao, Hana, Pukalani, Haiku-Pauwela and Haliimaile.

Residents and visitors should avoid flooded roads, streams and low-lying areas. Weather officials warned motorists not to drive through floodwaters, saying most flood deaths occur in vehicles.

The island-wide flash flood warning replaces the earlier flood advisory for Maui, which was in effect until 10:45 a.m. today.

The flood watch for Maui County and the Big Island remains in effect through this afternoon.

8:15 a.m.

A flood advisory was issued for all of Maui until 10:45 a.m. today as heavy rain caused minor flooding on the island’s windward and southeast sides and closed Hana High & Elementary School.

Radar at 7:45 a.m. showed rain falling at 0.5 to 1.5 inches an hour, heaviest along Hana Highway between Haiku and Nahiku and over Kaupo. Forecasters said Keanae, Nahiku, Kipahulu, Kaupo, Huelo, Makawao, Hana, Pukalani, Haiku-Pauwela and Haliimaile could see flooding.

The flood watch for Maui County and the Big Island remains in effect through this afternoon.

Hana High & Elementary School is closed today, according to the state Department of Education.

On Hana Highway, a boulder is blocking one lane at mile marker 13.5, and a crew is on the way, the state Department of Transportation said as of 6:45 a.m.

The advisories posted earlier for East and West Maui were replaced by the island-wide advisory.

EARLIER COVERAGE

A flood watch remains in effect for Maui County and the Big Island through this afternoon, and flood advisories were posted early today for parts of Maui as heavy rain fell on ground already soaked by days of wet weather.

The watch covers Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and the Big Island. Oahu and Kauai are no longer included, though showers are still expected there, the National Weather Service in Honolulu said.

Forecasters said flash flooding is possible. Short bursts of rain could develop throughout the day, and the greatest chance of heavy rain is over Maui and the Big Island.

In East Maui, a flood advisory is in effect until 8 a.m. today after radar showed heavy rain falling at rates of up to 2 inches an hour. Areas that could see minor flooding include Kipahulu, Kaupo, Nahiku, Hana, Keanae, Wailua, Hamoa and Haleakala National Park, forecasters said.

In West Maui, a separate flood advisory is in effect until 8:15 a.m. Radar showed rain falling at 1 to 2 inches an hour over the northwest side of the island, the weather service said. Honokohau, Kapalua, Kahakuloa, Napili-Honokowai, Waihee, Kaanapali, Waiehu and Honolua Bay could see minor flooding, with water over roads and some low-water crossings becoming impassable.

Parts of East Maui have received more than a foot of rain over the past 24 hours, so places that get another inch or more are more likely to flood, weather officials said. Streams could overflow, flood-prone roads and low-lying areas could close, and urban areas could see property damage from fast runoff.

Forecasters said it is hard to predict exactly where the heaviest rain will fall. Wind blowing from the northeast is expected to keep the heaviest showers over east-facing slopes and mountains.

Conditions should begin to improve this evening and continue through Friday. Tradewinds are expected to return over the weekend, followed by a front early next week that should bring several days of drier, cooler weather. Winds could become breezy to locally strong by midweek.

Highs today are forecast in the 80s on all islands. Showers should be scattered on Friday and Saturday, with isolated showers Sunday and Monday.

Surf on south-facing shores is expected to stay above average through the weekend. A larger northwest swell could push surf above the high surf advisory threshold Sunday, and strong northeast winds and rough north-northeast surf are possible Sunday night and Monday.

Forecasters urged residents and visitors to stay away from streams and low-lying areas, to monitor forecasts and to be ready if flash flood warnings are issued. A warning means flooding is happening or about to happen. Do not cross fast-moving or rising water on foot or in a vehicle. “Turn around, don’t drown,” the weather service said.