Jimena weakened into a tropical storm on Saturday but the powerful swells generated by its approach will continue to produce hazardous surf along eastern shores of the main Hawaiian Islands through Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
At 5 p.m. Saturday, Jimena was about 690 miles east of Honolulu and 575 miles east of Hana, Maui, moving north-northwest at 8 mph.
Jimena was sporting maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, with tropical storm-force winds extending out up to 205 miles from the center.
The storm is expected to steadily weaken as it continues toward the northwest with a slight increase in forward speed. Forecasters predict it will turn toward the west-northwest by Monday.
A high-surf advisory is in effect for the south shores of all islands and for the eastern shores of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and Hawaii island through Monday at 6 p.m.
Forecasters predict surf of 10 to 18 feet along eastern shores, and 5 to 8 feet on south shores.
On Saturday, high-surf conditions prompted the cancellation of the annual Waikiki Roughwater Swim. The event, usually scheduled for Labor Day, had been moved up due to the expected arrival of jellyfish. The race will not be rescheduled.
While heavy rain that drenched much of the state on Friday subsided on Saturday, Oahu and Kauai County remain under a flash-flood watch until 6 p.m. Sunday due to the continued threat of heavy showers and thunderstorms generated by a band of moisture extending south from the remnant of Hurricane Ignacio and a trough northwest of the islands.
Saturated soil from the recent heavy rain also increases the risk for flash flooding.
Kauai experienced isolated heavy showers on Saturday. In the 12-hour period ending 5 p.m., North Wailua Ditch received 2.87 inches of rain. During that same period, gauges at Puu Lua and Mount Waialeale recorded rainfall of 2.28 inches and 2.20 inches, respectively.
Hawaii island spent much of Saturday under a flood advisory as storm runoff and debris continued to flow over roads at Pualani Estates, Kuakini Highway near Pottery Terrace, and Highway 190 near mile markers 35 and 36. Keahole Point, Kona Village Resort and Holualoa were also affected.
The combination of moist conditions and high heat contributed to another day of stifling humidity across the state.
Temperatures in Honolulu reached a state-high 90 degrees by mid-afternoon, while Hilo recorded its second consecutive day of record-high temperatures at 89 degrees.
The moist and unstable air mass to the west of the state could keep things wet on Oahu and Kauai through Sunday afternoon. However, forecasters predict drier weather early in the coming week as a slightly drier air mass moves in from the east on Monday and Tuesday.
All forecasts beyond midweek are conditional based on the track and intensity of Jimena.
“The current forecast has us remaining in a rather light wind regime with a wetter weather pattern expected due to increased moisture from Jimena,” the weather service reported. “However, if Jimena tracks closer to the islands we could see more significant impacts.”