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Weather Service extends flash flood warning for Kauai

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COURTESY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

A loop of satellite imagery from this afternoon showing the weather over Hawaii.

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COURTESY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

Satellite imagery from this morning showed rain falling throughout Oahu.

Updated: 8:05 p.m.

A flash flood warning for Kauai has been extended to 10 p.m., the National Weather Service said.

Radar showed rainfall had diminished over Kauai at 7:28 p.m., but local authorities reported that Kuhio Highway remained closed near Hanalei Bridge, the Weather Service said.

Stream levels were lowering and that was expected to continue tonight.

The warning included, but was not limited to, Hanalei.

Updated: 5:30 p.m.

The flash flood warning for Maui and the flash flood advisory for Hawaii island have been canceled. A flash flood warning remains in effect for the island of Kauai until 8 p.m.

Updated: 5:05 p.m.

A flash flood warning for Kauai has been extended to 8 p.m.

At 4:45 p.m., radar showed rainfall had diminished over Kauai, but Kuhio Highway remained closed near the Hanalei Bridge, the National Weather Service said.

Runoff and stream levels remained high over north and east Kauai. The South Fork Wailua River rose six feet over the past hour, the Weather Service said.

Updated: 4:42 p.m.

Flooding has shut down Kuhio Highway in the area of Hanalei Bridge and power outages were affecting parts of the island this afternoon, Kauai county said.

The island remained under a flash flood warning until 5 p.m.

The American Red Cross opened a shelter at Hanalei Elementary School.

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative reported localized power outages throughout the island and were sending crews to restore power.

State Department of Transportation workers were also responding to a downed tree over Kuhio Highway in Lumahai.

Haena and Kee beaches were closed to swimming, and Grove Farm closed the access road to Mahaulepu because of hazardous conditions, the county said in a statement.

Officials reported heavy ponding, poor visibility and other hazardous driving conditions across the island.

Updated: 3:15 p.m.

A flash flood warning has been issued for Maui until 5:30 p.m.

At 2:32 p.m., radar indicated heavy rain over Upcountry Maui with rain falling at a rate of over three inches per hour over drainages flowing into Makawao and Pukalani, the Weather Service said.

Heavy rain has also developed over the West Maui Mountains, Ulupalakua and Wailea.

Rain is expected to continue falling through the afternoon.

Updated: 2:45 p.m.

A flash flood warning has been issued for Kauai as heavy rains were expected to swell rivers and shut down roads on the island, the National Weather Service said.

The warning, which includes all of Kauai, is in effect until 5 p.m.

At 2:04 p.m., radar indicated heavy rain over north Kauai near Wainiha and within the Hanalei River basin, the Weather Service said.

Hanalei River may reach levels that force the closure of Kuhio Highway near Hanalei Bridge, while streams on east Kauai, such as Wailua River, are also expected to rise, the Weather Service said. Low water crossings on Loop Road may become impassable.

Heavy rain is expected to continue during the afternoon and may spread to the leeward part of the island.

A flood advisory for Oahu has been canceled, but a flood advisory has been issued for Maui until 4:45 p.m. and Hawaii island until 4:30 p.m.

Radar showed heavy rain over Upcountry Maui from Haiku to Keokea at 1:47 p.m. with rain falling at one to two inches per hour.

Locations in the advisory included Haliimaile, Pauwela, Kipahulu, Paia, Makawao, Keokea, Haiku-Pauwela, Huelo, Kula, Pukalani, Nahiku and Hana.

On the Big Island, radar indicated heavy rain near Waikii, Pohakuloa, and Saddle Road at about 1:37 p.m. with rain falling at one to three inches per hour. Rain was expected throughout the afternoon and possibly spread over the Belt Highway between Waimea town and Puuanahulu, the Weather Service said.

Locations in the advisory include Pohakuloa Camp, Pohakuloa Training Area, Puuanahulu, Kamuela and Waikii.

Previous coverage:

Oahu and Kauai are under a flood advisory this afternoon as heavy rain falls over parts of both islands, according to the National Weather Service in Honolulu.

The advisory for Kauai was scheduled to expire at 3:30 p.m. and for Oahu at 3:45 p.m.

At 12:47 p.m. today, radar showed heavy rain “over the Ewa area near Campbell Industrial Park and over central Oahu near Wahiawa and Schofield Barracks,” the Weather Service said. “Showers have been moving westward but new showers are developing over the island. Heavy rainfall is expected to continue over portions of Oahu through the afternoon.”

The advisory covers Waialua, Ahuimanu, Punaluu, Wheeler Field, Kapolei, Waikele, Kalihi, Barbers Point, Waiahole, and Moanalua, according to the weather service.

On Kauai, radar indicated heavy rain over the north-facing slopes of Kauai at about 12:20 p.m. with the highest rain rates falling in Kokee State Park, which was seeing up to 1 to 2 inches per hour.

Additional rainfall is expected to develop over the island over the next several hours, the weather service said. Locations in the advisory for Kauai include but are not limited to Kilauea, Mana, Hanalei, Na Pali State Park, Omao, Barking Sands, Wainiha, North Fork Wailua Trails, Moloaa, Princeville, Kalaheo and Hanapepe.

In addition, the weather service warned of potentially strong thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds for the Big Island and Kauai this afternoon. “Dangerous cloud to ground lightning, strong gusty winds of up to 50 mph, and torrential rainfall can be expected with the strongest storms, forecasters said about Hawaii island. “Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Seek safe shelter inside a building or a vehicle.”

Kauai, likewise, could see “cloud-to-ground lightning and strong gusty winds through the afternoon,” they said.

Forecasters said that “tropical moisture overrunning the islands from the east will maintain muggy conditions with enhanced showers through Tuesday. Instability aloft will introduce a slight chance of thunderstorms.” They said drier and windier conditions should return to the state Wednesday.

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