Residents of East Hawaii looking to dry out from several days of downpours today awoke to partly sunny skies and more optimistic predictions from National Weather Service forecasters.
The deluge included an even dozen flood advisories or warnings over a 24-hour period capped by a flash flood warning that was cancelled at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Preliminary rainfall totals in the 36-hour period ending at 8 p.m. Tuesday included 8.65 inches at Hilo’s airport and 7.48 inches in the upslope Hilo area of Waiakea Uka.
The rainfall also set a record of 5.17 inches for April 1 in Hilo, with 3.81 inches of that arriving between midnight and 8 a.m. The previous record for the date was 3.57 inches, set in 1972.
Although a low-pressure trough that had been stirring up the atmosphere since Monday was moving further to the northeast, brisk trade winds were expected to bring in showers over windward sections today that could be enhanced by convective daytime heating.
Partly cloudy weather with scattered showers over windward areas and isolated showers are forecast for Thursday, followed by increasing clouds and scattered showers in East Hawaii Friday through Sunday.
Another frontal system is expected to sweep into the state from the northwest beginning Sunday, carrying northerly winds and cooler temperatures behind it.
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