TO UPDATE: 11:30 am
As of 10:30 a.m., both lanes of the Kuhio Highway near the Hanalei Bridge will be open, according to Kauai County.
A tide watch will remain in effect for all islands through this afternoon.
Niihau and Kauai are also subject to a wind warning until 6 p.m. today.
The Kauai Department of Water has issued a water conservation application from Hanalei to Haena until further notice due to power outages and severe weather in the area.
“Customers are advised to limit water use to only essential needs such as cooking, drinking or sanitation to prevent a complete water supply blackout,” the department said in a statement. “Additional water conservation measures include turning off appliances and devices that draw water automatically, such as ice machines and irrigation systems.”
The National Weather Service has also issued a winter storm warning for Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the island of Hawaii, effective through 6 p.m. today.
Weather officials say humidity and freezing temperatures over the peaks today will bring the potential for snow and freezing rain. Two to four inches of additional snow is expected.
Travel to the peaks could be very difficult to impossible and should be postponed until the threat subsides.
A high surf warning also remains in effect for the north and west shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu and Molokai; for the north shore of Maui; and the east coast of Kauai until 6:00 p.m. today.
Surf of 14 to 18 feet is expected along the North Shore of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu and Molokai and 12 to 16 feet along the North Shore of Maui.
Surf of 10 to 14 feet is expected along the west shore of Kauai.
The public should heed all advice from marine safety officials.
In addition, health officials have issued a brown water advisory for Kauai’s North Shore — from Kee Beach to Kalihiwai Bay.
EARLIER TODAY
Though an earlier flash flood warning for the island of Kauai has expired, a flood warning for all islands remains in effect through this afternoon as the state looks forward to frequent showers with a possibility of thunderstorms today.
At 5:31 a.m., radar and rain gauges showed heavy rain falling over North Kauai at rates of up to 1 inch per hour, according to the National Weather Service. Although flux and current levels remain elevated, they have stopped rising or are slowly falling.
A single lane of the Kuhio Highway in Hanalei has reopened after flooding forced its closure. Forecasters said more rain was possible later in the morning.
Weather officials are warning Kauai visitors and residents to stay away from streams, rivers, drainage ditches and culverts, even though they are currently dry.
Meanwhile, upper low pressure is expected to connect to a nearby surface trough west of the islands and threatens to bring heavy rains to all islands, potentially causing flash flooding.
Windy conditions also persist, with NE winds of 15 to 30 mph and gusts up to 50 mph for Kauai and easterly winds of 10 to 25 mph for the rest of the state.
Though the tide watch is in effect for all islands through this afternoon, the potential for heavy showers tonight and Tuesday will gradually ease as winds weaken for the remainder of the week, forecasters said. Trade winds could potentially return by the end of the week.