#National Weather Service

Forecasters say if lava fountaining happens, varying levels of ash, Pele’s hair and other lightweight tephra could fall downwind of the summit. Smaller particles can travel farther from the summit and could affect communities at greater distances.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu has lifted the high surf advisory for north-facing shores of Hawaiʻi.

Forecasters with National Weather Service forecast office in Honolulu report flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat to Hawaiʻi County; only advisory still in effect until 6 a.m. Wednesday, March 25, is small craft advisory for all islands.

A flood watch is in effect for the Big Island through tomorrow.

Flood watch extended through Monday, March 23, for Hawai’i Island only because of lingering moisture left by the departing kona low — the second of back-to-back kona lows in the past 2 weeks — and a trough aloft that will produce conditions for another round of rainfall.

The rain is mostly over Maui County this morning, with the storm expected to slide southeast toward Hawai‘i Island later today.

However, a flood watch remains in place until 6 p.m. Sunday for the island as impacts from a second kona low in a week is still expected to impact the Big Island.

Five people and the furry friend were extricated Friday morning from a rooftop in the Waialua area; the other two people — who wrote ‘SOS’ in the sand — were stranded near Yokohama Bay because the road washed out. Everyone and the dog were taken to safety at U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point in Kapolei, Oʻahu.

A winter storm watch has been issued for the Big Island summits, where a Kona storm is forecast to bring up to 10 inches of snow and winds of up to 70 mph this weekend.

Catastrophic flooding from second Kona low storm prompts proactive power shutoff for thousands on Oʻahu.

Hawaiʻi County is in Volcano today, March 20, offering guidance on tephra recovery and storm preparedness as a flood watch impacts the island through Sunday.

This storm is not expected to be as severe as the powerful kona low that slammed into the island last weekend; however, be aware that areas that flooded during the first storm could flood faster with additional rainfall because of ground saturation.

National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Foster said the next Kona low system will start developing Thursday afternoon on the Big Island with potential flooding by Thursday night.

On March 14, the storm knocked down trees and power lines and caused flooding and other damage in the national park.

The National Weather Service has lifted the wind advisory for Hawaiʻi Island as conditions improve, though residents are urged to stay vigilant due to potential lingering gusts.

Heavy rains have subsided, and the flash flood warning for Hawaiʻi Island has been lifted, according to the latest update from the National Weather Service.

Persistent bands of heavy rain and thunderstorms associated with a large powerful kona low drawing deep tropical moisture through the islands could produce intense rainfall rates, leading to rapid rises of stream waters and flooding of roads and low-lying areas.

Forecasters report that southwest winds 25 to 35 mph — with gusts to about 50 mph — are expected, with communities north and east of steep mountain slopes most at risk of the strongest winds; a high wind warning and winter storm warning also remain in effect for Big Island summits.

Travel to the summits of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea should be postponed until high wind, winter weather subside by Sunday. Flood watch in effect for all of Hawaiʻi Island.

National Weather Service issued a flood watch in effect through Saturday afternoon (March 14) for Hawaiʻi Island as conditions are expected to become favorable; the storm could even produce brief and weak tornadoes in addition to isolated severe thunderstorms.