UPDATE: Flood Advisory Issued For Big Island

***Updated 1:42 p.m.***

Heavy rains hitting West Hawaii and moving eastward prompted the issuing of a flood advisory for the Big Island.

The National Weather Service said the advisory will be in place until at least 3:15 p.m.

At 1 p.m. today, downpours were being recorded on radar across Kona and the Kohala coast, and were also beginning along parts of lower Puna.

The weather service said several inches of water was reported on the Akoni-Pule Highway between Kawaihae and Hawi.

 Posted 10:02 a.m.:

The National Weather Service this morning issued a special weather statement alerting Big Island residents to a band of showers with strong wind gusts.

The showers  associated with a cold front were expected to sweep across the leeward side of the island this morning accompanied by wind gusts of up to 40 mph.

The forecast for the Big Island today was mostly cloudy with numerous showers likely through the day, with locally heavy rainfall possible.

Advisories in effect for the island included a high-surf advisory for north-facing shores and a high-surf warning for the western side of the island, both of which are to remain in effect until at least 6 a.m. Friday.

Maximum surf heights of 20 feet were expected for the island’s north shores.

The weather service also has issued a high-wind warning and winter-weather advisory for the summits of the Big Island until at least 6 p.m. tonight. Winds of up to 90 mph and temperatures in the mid-20s were being recorded this morning atop Mauna Kea.

Forecasters expect drier and cooler weather on the Big Island beginning Thursday and continuing into the weekend.