Stormy weather forecast through Christmas Eve
This traffic camera image from Kamehameha Highway shows wet roads and moderate traffic in Kaneohe Monday morning.
The leading edge of a weather system moved over Kauai and Oahu Monday morning.
Rains in Hawaii Kai left wet roads Monday morning.
This traffic camera image from Kalanianaole Highway near Hawaii Loa Ridge shows wet roads and light traffic Monday morning.
Stormy weather over the state is likely to stick around through Christmas Eve, and could bring a white Christmas to Big Island summits.
“Widespread showers, periods of heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms will bring potential for flash flooding,” forecasters said.
The entire state is under a flash flood watch from 6 p.m. Monday through 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Forecasters said rainfall amounts of 3 inches per hour are possible. Excessive runoff may also produce rock and mudslides in steep terrain and fast moving waters could create life-threatening situations.
A cold front moving over the western half of the state prompted flood advisories for Oahu and Kauai, which were lifted as rains eased.
Up to 6 inches of rain fell on Kauai overnight.
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National Weather Service forecasters say the cold front will stall near Maui and another upper-atmosphere weather system will bring heavier rain and the possibility of thunderstorms through Wednesday.
Forecasters also posted a winter storm watch for Big Island summits, where snow showers and thunderstorms could bring more than 6 inches of snow, which could remain on the ground through Christmas Day.
Snow is “very likely over the Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea summits tonight and again on Tuesday night,” the National Weather Service said.
Thunderstorms are also a threat on the summits and could bring even higher snowfall.
There’s also a high surf warning posted for north and west shores of most islands until 6 a.m. Tuesday.
The surf is expected to peak at 25 to 30 feet Monday on north and west shores of Kauai and Niihau and north shores of Oahu, Molokai and Maui.
West shores of Oahu and Molokai could get 15 to 20 foot surf and west shores of the Big Island could see wave heights of 8 to 12 feet.
The forecast for Honolulu and south shores of Oahu calls for a 70 to 90 percent chance of rain through Wednesday with frequent showers and scattered thunderstorms.
Rain and possible thunderstorms are likely for the Hawaii Bowl at Aloha Stadium Wednesday afternoon.
Skies should start clearing by Christmas Day.
