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4w ago

Hawaii Under Statewide Flood Watch as New Kona Storm Unleashes Heavy Rain

Saturated ground from March’s severe storms leaves the islands primed for rapid flash flooding.

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Brown water is seen at Laniakea beach following recent floods in Haleiwa, on the north shore of Oahu on March 22. More downpours are coming to Hawaii, raising flood concerns since the ground is already saturated.
The Kona storm marked by the red "L" is fueling heavy rain by funneling in tropical moisture across Hawaii through the end of the week.
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Overview

  • The National Weather Service’s Flood Watch, in effect Wednesday through Friday, warns of 4 to 10 inches of rain with higher local totals and a high risk of flash flooding and landslides.
  • Early rounds of downpours Tuesday into Wednesday triggered flash flood warnings on Maui and the Big Island, with floodwater entering a home in Puna and more than 11 inches measured near Pāhoa.
  • Forecasters expect the heaviest bands to organize from Thursday into Friday, with southerly gusts near 40 to 50 mph and a high wind warning posted for parts of Oahu through Friday morning.
  • Honolulu, which plans to activate its Emergency Operations Center Wednesday, is pre‑positioning responders as Mayor Rick Blangiardi urges residents to prepare for possible evacuations.
  • This is the third Kona storm since mid‑March, a slow‑moving low that taps deep tropical moisture, and the earlier pair brought the state’s worst flooding in 20 years with widespread rescues and damage.