Cold Front Hammers Kauai and Oahu, Spares Big Island

The Big Island will apparently be spared the onslaught of rain that affected much of the state over the weekend.

A cold front that moved across Kauai, dumping more than 4 inches of rain at Poipu, and then Oahu, which received more than five inches at Punaluu, has stalled over Molokai, the National Weather Service said today.

The majority of the system has since moved off to the northeast.

A flash flood watch remains in effect for Oahu and Maui County through late this afternoon because of the threat of heavy rains over already saturated ground.

No rain has fallen over most areas of the Big Island over the 24-hour period ending at 8 a.m. today.

The exceptions have been trace amounts on its windward side. The most fell near the Kapapala area of northeastern Ka`u which saw nearly a fifth of an inch of precipitation.

Although the front should remain west of the Big Island, forecasters said some areas of the island could see heavy rainfall in the afternoon, the product of convection, the warming of the land that creates cumulus clouds and localized rainfall.

Snowfall on the summits of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea is also possible, the weather service said.