NWS Issues Flood Watch for Big Island and Maui County
The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a Flood Watch for the Big Island, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and Kahoolawe from Wednesday at noon through Saturday afternoon. An intensifying tropical cyclone is expected to bring heavy rain and potential flash flooding to the region.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued the watch early Wednesday morning, with the alert scheduled to remain in effect until September 26 at 6:00 PM HST. An intensifying tropical cyclone is driving the weather pattern, bringing heavy rain to the eastern end of the state over the next few days. Although the exact path of the cyclone remains uncertain, significant heavy rain is highly likely over the windward and southeast portions of the Big Island.
According to the NWS, heavy rain will develop later today and tonight over the Big Island before spreading to Maui. Windward and southeast Big Island, as well as windward Maui, are the areas most likely to experience heavy rain. Portions of the Big Island may face considerable flooding from Friday into the weekend, and other islands in Maui County also remain at risk.
Potential impacts from the excessive rainfall include flash flooding due to the overflow of streams and drainages. This runoff may cause property damage in low-lying or urban areas and lead to road closures across several regions. Additionally, those in areas with steep terrain should be aware of the potential for landslides.