NWS: Hail, Thunder & Lightning Strikes Expected

Big Island Now stock photo. June 2012.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu issued a special report for the windward (north, east) and interior sections of the Big Island at 1:38 p.m. on Thursday, March 2, 2017,

Through 3 p.m. today, heavy showers and thunderstorms developing upslope from Hilo will drift east over the lower windward slopes, coast and nearshore waters.

Frequent, deadly, cloud-to-surface lightning strikes and low visibility in heavy rain will affect the area
from near Saddle Road to near Pepe‘ekeo and Papaikou and adjacent nearshore waters out to 15 miles northeast of Pepe‘ekeo.

Small hail is also possible with the stronger upslope thunderstorms.

Find shelter if outdoors and you hear thunder. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.