Foot of rain triggers life-threatening flash flooding in part of Hawaii
A slow-moving storm will continue to unload torrential rain in part of the Hawaii through this weekend creating dangerous flash flooding and mudslides.
This image of the central Pacific, captured on Friday, Apr. 12, 2024, shows the storm with its bright-colored clouds spinning northwest of Hawaii (lower center). Intense rain was occurring in the western and central parts of Hawaii. (AccuWeather Enhanced RealView™ satellite)
A storm will continue to pump tropical moisture over part of the Hawaiian Islands through the end of the weekend with life-threatening consequences from flash flooding, AccuWeather meteorologists say.
The storm is locally called a "Kona Low," which is a slow-moving storm (low-pressure area) in the part of the atmosphere where jets cruise.
"The Kona Low and its counterclockwise flow of air was positioned in a perfect spot to pump moisture northward over the region," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Matt Benz said. "The storm was located several hundred miles to the northwest of the islands."
The storm had unloaded over 12 inches of rain on the city of Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii.
Kauai is located on the northwestern part of the island chain. Fewer than 75,000 people live permanently on the island, which is largely remote and a resort-based community. There are several low-water crossings instead of bridges along some of the roads on the island. High water could make traveling through these areas very dangerous.
The climate on the island is diverse, and as is the case on much of the Hawaiian Islands, the wettest zones are on the northeastern sides, which are exposed to persistent northeast trade winds that transport moisture in from the Pacific. The southwestern side of the island is shielded from the mountains in the middle of the island and is desertlike in some cases.
"The Kona low produced and will likely continue to produce copious amounts of rain on Lihue, especially in the southwestern desert part of the island into this weekend," Benz said. "Dangerous conditions with a high risk of flash flooding, mudslides and other debris flows with washouts are likely."
As of early Saturday local time, up to a foot of rain has fallen, with 6-10 inches in the desert part of the island.
"The Kona Low will slowly wander to the southeast this weekend and will continue to bring drenching downpours on Kauai while allowing the firehose of rain to crawl farther to the east over the island chain," Benz said.
The storm could bring 1-2 feet of rain to Kauai, with heavy rain shifting in and out over the island over the weekend.
Due to the shifting bands, parts of Oahu may get hit with downpours and flash flooding late this weekend into early this upcoming week, Benz added. Maui can experience the downpours late this weekend into early next week as well.
Aside from raising the risk to lives and property and spoiling vacations for some, rain is needed as large portions of Hawaii were experiencing abnormally dry to moderate and extreme drought conditions, according to the United States Drought Monitor.
The storm near Hawaii is not the same storm that is heading across California this weekend with areas of rain, mountain snow and gusty thunderstorms.
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