Fausto Leaves Calling Card as it Passes Big Isle

Wide swaths of the windward side of the Big Island were drenched overnight by remnants of tropical storm Fausto, and its effects are not yet pau, the National Weather Service said today.

The Hamakua coast, Hilo and lower slopes of Mauna Loa took the brunt of the thunderstorms which were felt from Honoka`a to South Point.

Although most of what was once Fausto has passed over the Big Island, Bob Burke, a forecaster with the NWS’ Honolulu office, said a significant amount of moisture remaining upstream to the east-northeast is expected to bring more showers.

He said those will mostly be felt on the windward side, but afternoon heating may result in thunderstorms over interior sections both there and on leeward slopes.

“It’s still a bit unstable, especially over the Big Island,” Burke said.

The highest rainfall totals in the 24-hour period ending at 8 a.m. today occurred on the mid-level slopes of Mauna Loa. They included 7.44 inches at the Saddle Quarry, 5.99 inches further south at Keaumo and 5.68 inches at Kulani in between.

Other soggy areas during the period included Laupahoehoe, with 4.55 inches; Mountain View, 2.53; Pahala, 2.55; and South Point, with 2.92 inches.

Hilo received 4.54 inches from midnight Saturday to midnight Sunday, which set a new record for July 13. The old record for that date was 1.89 inches set in 1991.

Burke said today should be the last day for the “heavy stuff,” which will give way to typical trade wind conditions through midweek and then a drier trend toward the weekend.