Flash Flood Warning Cancelled

The Flash Flood Warning for the island of Hawaii expired at 2:15 p.m. on Oct. 24.

Update 3:50 p.m.:

The following road closures remain in place until roadway conditions return to normal:

Kukila Street in Hilo remains closed.
The Kalapana Lava Viewing Area is closed for tonight.

Avoid these areas and use alternate routes.

All other roads are open at this time.

Update 3:30 p.m.: HPD reports Wood Valley Road in Pahala is open to traffic.

The public is being warned to use caution in this area as flash flooding can occur at any time.

Updates will be posted as needed. HPD recommends to avoid traveling unless it is completely necessary due to roadway conditions and flooding.

Update 2 p.m.:

The Flash Flood Warning for the island of Hawaii will expire at 2:15 p.m.

Radar and rain gages show that heavy rain has ended over most of the Big Island. A few heavy showers remain over the eastern end of the Puna District but are not expected a threat of significant flooding.

The following roads closures remain:

In Hilo, Kamehameha Avenue is closed from Pauahi Street to Ponahawai Street.
Also in Hilo, Railroad Avenue is now open, but Kukila Street remains closed.
Wood Valley Road remains closed.
Be advised to avoid these areas and use alternate routes.
All other roads are open at this time. Due to occasional heavy downpours, driving conditions are poor. Be on the alert for additional possible road closures.

Kamehameha St at 2 p.m. Oct. 24.

Due to the thunderstorm, utilities of power and phones may be interrupted. If lightning threatens your area, the safest place to be is indoors.

Should power outages occur, be on the alert for non-operable traffic signals. Please treat flashing traffic lights as a four-way stop.

Again, the National Weather Service reports Flash Flood Warning now in effect for South Hilo. Heavy thundershowers are expected to continue through this afternoon.

UPDATE 1:30 p.m.: The Flash Flood Warning remains in effect until 2:15 p.m. for the island of Hawaii in Hawaii County.

At 1:14 p.m. radar and rain gage data indicated that rainfall has ended over most of the Big Island. The remaining rainfall is within a band that is affecting the eastern portion of the Puna District. Hawaii County Civil Defense reported that flooding problems have subsided in Kau and most of Kona.

Based on these reports, the Flash Flood Warning area has been reduced to include only the Puna District and portions of the South Hilo and Kau Districts.

Locations in the warning include but are not limited to… Hilo, Orchidland Estates, Pepeekeo, Keaau, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Pahoa, Hawaiian Acres, Glenwood, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Volcano, Pahala and Mountain View.

A flash flood warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring in streams, roads, and low lying areas. Move to higher ground now.

Do not cross fast flowing water in your vehicle, or on foot. Turn around, don/t drown.

This warning may need to be extended beyond 215 PM HST if heavy rain persists.

UPDATE 12:20 p.m.: HPD is reporting that Hwy 11 near Pahala, by the 50 Mile Marker and Kawa are clear at this time for traffic. It appears that the heavy rains have move North.

The public is still being asked to drive cautiously since these areas can flare up at anytime and be closed. State Highways signs will remain in place for the next 12 hours. Any further updates will be posted as needed.

UPDATE Noon: At 11:45 a.m. the NWS reports that rainfall over the Kona slopes of the Big Island has eased over the past hour. The heaviest rainfall recently has been in the Puna District over and around Pahoa, and in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Hawaii County police reported the closing of several flood-prone roads in Hilo. Radar data show more rainfall will move over the east side of the Big Island over the next several hours.

This warning includes the entire island of Hawaii.

A flash flood warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring in streams, roads, and low lying areas. Move to higher ground now.

Do not cross fast flowing water in your vehicle, or on foot. Turn around, don/t drown.

Konda Flooding. PC: Brent Hawley

UPDATE 11:50 a.m.: Flooding along Kamehameha Ave and Bayfront Highway in Hilo is leading to several road closures. Kamehameha Ave and Pauahi St is IMPASSABLE due to flooding. Bayfront Highway is CLOSED. Pauahi Street and Aupuni Street intersection is CLOSED. Kamehameha Ave and Manono Street/Lihiwai Street intersection is CLOSED.

UPDATE 11:15 a.m.:

The National Weather Service in Honolulu has extended the Flash Flood Warning for the island of Hawaii in Hawaii County until 2:15 p.m.

At 11 a.m. radar showed heavy rainfall continuing over portions of the Big Island with the most intense areas along the Kona slopes and over the Kau, Puna, and South Hilo Districts.

Peak rain rates were in the range of 1 to 2 inches per hour. Hawaii County Civil Defense reported that Kuakini Highway above Kailua-Kona, Wood Valley Road near Pahala, and Kukila Street and Railroad Avenue in Hilo were closed due to flooding. Rainfall will continue to move over the Big Island from the southwest for several more hours.

This warning includes the entire island of Hawaii.

Kona Flooding. PC: Brent Hawley

A flash flood warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring in streams, roads, and low lying areas. Move to higher ground now.

Do not cross fast flowing water in your vehicle, or on foot. Turn around, don/t drown.

This warning may need to be extended beyond 2:15 p.m. if heavy rain persists.

UPDATE 11:05 a.m.: Hawaii Police ask drivers to AVOID Kamehameha Avenue and Pauahi Street intersection, which is impassable due to flooding.

As a result, the following intersections are also impacted and traffic is being diverted into Downtown Hilo:

The Bayfront Highway is closed. Traffic entering Downtown Hilo from Route 19 must turn right onto Waianuenue Avenue and use alternate routes.

The intersection of Pauahi Street and Aupuni Street is closed to traffic. Vehicles are being diverted onto Aupuni Street.

The intersection of Kamehameha Avenue and Manono Street/Lihiwai Street is closed.

State Highways and County Public Works crews are setting up barricades at these intersections. Do not drive past these barricades.

As vehicular traffic is anticipated to increase on alternate routes, including Kilauea Avenue, Kinoole Street, Waianuenue Avenue, Komohana Street, Ponahawai Street, Wainaku Avenue and other lateral streets, motorists are asked to drive with caution and exercise patience as visibility is diminished due to heavy rains and roadways may become flooded.

UPDATE 9:30 a.m.: A Flash Flood Warning means dangerous flooding is occurring or imminent; and may pose a threat to life and property. Heavy thunder showers are expected to continue through today.

The following roads are impacted:

Kukila Street and Railroad Avenue near Lanikaula Street in Hilo are closed.
The Kawa Area on Highway 11 near the 50 mile marker in Ka‘u is flooding.
Wood Valley Road in Pahala is closed due to severe flooding.
Be advised to avoid these areas and use alternate routes.

All other roads are open at this time. Due to occasional heavy downpours, driving conditions are poor. Be on the alert for additional possible road closures.

Due to the thunderstorm, your utilities of power and phones may be interrupted. If lightning threatens your area, the safest place to be is indoors.

Should power outages occur, be on the alert for non-operable traffic signals. Please treat flashing traffic lights as a four-way stop.

Again, the National Weather Service reports Flash Flood Warning now in effect for Hawaii Island. Heavy thundershowers are expected to continue throughout today.

UPDATE: At 8:47 a.m. Hawaii County police reported that Highway 11 near Kawa Flats is starting to flood. Rain gages are also reporting rates greater than 2 inches per hour near Kealakekua and Holualoa along the Kona slopes. Radar data indicate more rainfall will move over the Big Island from the southwest over the next several hours.

At 8:15 a.m., radar and rain gages indicated heavy rainfall occurring over several areas of the Big Island. Flash flooding is expected in low-lying areas from Kailua-Kona to Kealakekua, over the Ahualoa and upper Paauilo areas of Hamakua, and over the low-lying sections of Hilo.

This warning includes the entire island of Hawaii.

A flash flood warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring in streams, roads, and low lying areas. Move to higher ground now.

Do not cross fast flowing water in your vehicle, or on foot. Turn around, don/t drown.

This warning may need to be extended beyond 11:15 a.m. if heavy rain persists.

This flash flood warning replaces the previously issued flood advisory that was in effect for portions of the island of Hawaii in Hawaii County.