UPDATE: 12:45 p.m
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the entire island of Maui.
Radar showed heavy rain tonight continuing over Maui. The most intense rain was over the Wailuku and Waikapu areas, with rates of 1 to 2 inches over saturated ground. The Maalaea area of southern Maui, which was hit by flooding earlier this weekend, and the Honoapiilani Highway from Maalaea to Lahaina will be prone to flooding, as will poor drainage areas in Wailuku and Kahului.
The Honopou Current gauge on the windward Haleakala slopes also showed a rapid rise in water level.
This warning is in effect until 3:15 a.m. but will be extended if flooding continues.
Molokai’s flood warning has expired.
9:45 p.m
Molokai’s flash flood warning has been replaced with a flood warning until 12:30 a.m. Sunday.
Radar that evening indicated moderate to heavy rainfall moving across the island from the northeast for the next few hours. Expect rain rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour.
6:30 p.m
While rains have eased over the islands, a flash flood warning for Molokai remains in place until 9:45 p.m
Stream gauges showed runoff levels were still elevated, and the Maui Emergency Management Agency reported that the Kamehameha V Highway was still flooded in the Kawela and Kamalo areas, the National Weather Service said in an update.
Forecasters expect additional rainfall to sweep across the island from the northeast over the next few hours.
17:30
The National Weather Service extended a flash flood warning for Molokai until 6:45 p.m
Rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour as of 3:35 p.m., radar data said.
An emergency shelter has opened near Kaunakakai for those affected by the floods, NWS said in an update.
12:45 p.m
A flash flood warning for Molokai has been extended again and is set to expire at 3:45 p.m
Radar data showed heavy rain over the island, with precipitation rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour. Other areas saw higher amounts of rain.
Rapid water level rises have been recorded in Kawela Gulch and Kaunakakai Gulch.
Forecasters said precipitation will decrease in the short term but could return quickly over the next few hours.
10 am
A flash flood warning for Molokai has been extended to 12:45 p.m. but has expired for the island of Maui.
“At 9:30 a.m. HST, radar indicated heavy rain continued to fall over much of the island of Molokai, with peak rain rates approaching 2 inches per hour,” the National Weather Service said. “Water levels in ravines and streams remain high and flash flooding occurs.”
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State Emergency Management officials are urging residents and visitors to prepare for heavy rain and possible flooding as a rainy weather system over Hawaii placed much of the island chain under flood protection as of Sunday afternoon.
So far, Maui County has felt the brunt of the storm system that began Friday, with Pukalani and Kula in upcountry Maui getting more than 5 inches of rain in 24 hours, the National Weather Service said at 7:45 a.m
Flash flood warnings are in effect until 10:00 a.m. for the island of Maui and 9:45 a.m. for Molokai.
The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said the risk of hazardous weather conditions will shift from east to west across the state over the weekend.
“This weather pattern poses several distinct hazards in various locations within the state, and we urge our residents and visitors to be cautious and prepared,” HI-EMA Administrator Luke Meyers said in a statement late Friday. “Sign up for your local County Alerts to ensure you get the most up-to-date and reliable information.”
Oahu could see wind gusts of up to 45 miles per hour through Monday, while Kauai could also get strong winds and rain, HI-EMA said.
Heavy rain Friday over Maui downwind blocked roads, flooded low-lying areas and resulted in the serious injury of a Maui firefighter, who was washed down a storm drain, officials said.
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The Maui Emergency Management Agency activated its Emergency Operation Center and urged residents to report structural property damage online, HI-EMA said.
The Honolulu National Weather Service issued a flood warning for all islands from Oahu to the Big Island through Sunday afternoon.
“Most of the precipitation is expected to fall over windward slopes and coasts, but some heavy showers could spread to leeward areas, where current flow could also be increased,” forecasters said.
The heavy rain could extend to Kauai through Sunday afternoon, and localized heavy rain and possible thunderstorms are forecast through Monday, particularly over windward areas, they said.
Gusty winds are expected from Kauai to Oahu through early Monday, the weather service said.
A winter storm warning is also in effect for the peaks of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island through Sunday evening, with freezing rain and up to 6 inches of snow expected.