Heavy rain hits Big Island

By Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writer

Heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms began falling on parts of the Big Island today as the National Weather Service extended an overnight flood watch for the island as well as Kaua'i.

A flood watch is in effect for the Big Island today after heavy showers and isolated thunderstorm began falling this morning. The heavy rain could hit Maui or O'ahu later today. Tim Wright • Special to The Honolulu Advertiser

The watch was to be in effect through 6 p.m. with flash flooding a possibility because the weather pattern could concentrate over areas of both islands. But the weather service also said similar conditions were likely to produce heavy rain over the rest of the state into Wednesday.

A cold front and upper level trough, bearing down on the western end of the state, caused the rainfall.

Meteorologist Tim Craig said the weather service was not sure how much rain would fall over the next few days — perhaps as much as two inches during each downpour.

"Right now the moisture is aimed at the Big Island and Kaua'i but 6 hours from now it could easily be aimed at Maui County or O'ahu," Craig said this morning.

Winds will be out of the south and "pretty strong," about 10 to 25 mph with locally stronger gusts," Craig said.

A high-surf advisory also was in effect for all northwest facing shores of the state. Swells hitting the north shores of O'ahu and Kaua'i were expected to produce wave faces of 10 to 15 feet with occasionally larger sets, the weather service said.