Oahu rainfall total on Monday sets December record
The deluge of heavy rains brought by the “Kona low” set a record daily maximum rainfall of 7.92 inches at Honolulu on Monday, according to the National Weather Service, broaching the previous record of 4.11 inches set for the day in 1988.
It was also the wettest December day on record, NWS said, surpassing the previous single-day record of 7.89 inches for the month on Dec. 12, 1987.
But it still came in second to the overall record of rain in a single day in Honolulu — which still stands at 15.32 inches on March 5, 1958.
As of 8 a.m. today, NWS said 24-hour rainfall totals averaged around 5 to 10 inches across Oahu, with more than 10 inches at Makua Range and Makaha Stream. Across Kauai, an average of 1.5 to 3.5 inches fell during the same time period.
Preliminary 48-hour rainfall averages on Oahu up to the end of today include up to 11.68 inches in upper Nuuanu, 11.34 inches at Lyon Arboretum in Manoa, 7.31 inches in Waianae, and 8.46 inches at Aloha Tower.
On Hawaii island, meanwhile, the Nene Cabin rain gauge recorded 14.26 inches of rainfall. On Maui, the Kula 1 rain gauge recorded 12.86 inches.
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Forecasters earlier today kept a flood watch in place for Oahu and Kauai due to the continued threat of heavy rain and thunderstorms, but canceled it for Oahu this evening.
A flood watch remains in effect for Kauai County through 6 a.m. Wednesday.