14-inch rainstorm surprises Hilo area

By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

HILO, Hawai'i — A thunderstorm struck Hilo with little warning yesterday afternoon and drenched the area with as much as 14 inches of rain, but had caused no major damage by nightfall, officials said.

A flash flood warning remained in effect for the Big Island and east Maui. A flash flood watch was in effect for the rest of the state.

The National Weather Service said 9.5 inches of rain was recorded in 3 1/2 hours in Hilo. Some areas above Hilo got as much as 14 inches. The worst of the thunder and lightning storm was expected to break up last night. Streams began to overflow before the storm ebbed around 4 p.m. Hilo police closed part of Kamehameha Avenue, but fire officials said no rescues were necessary.

Repairs made since a huge storm in November 2000 are believed to have helped prevent more trouble, officials said. That storm dumped 30 inches of rain on the Big Island over several days and caused $70 million in damage.

Will LaPlante of the National Weather Service at Hilo said the storm came suddenly just after noon, dropping 9 1/2 inches on Hilo. The storm did not extend to Puna or Ka'u, where repairs still are being made because of damage caused by the November 2000 storm.

"We seem to have been lucky this one lasted such a short time," said Bill Davis of the Hawai'i County Civil Defense Agency.

Davis, who managed the response to the 2000 flooding disaster, said the intensity of yesterday's rainfall was similar to last year's storm but it did not last nearly as long.

Police said that in upper Kaumana, Hawai'i Electric Light Co. crews were trying to re-establish electrical service.

Traffic was tied up on Hoaka Road in Waiakea-uka, where prior floods have caused major damage. And police closed Kamehameha Avenue between Pauahi and Ponahawai streets.

The good news was that yesterday's rain tempered nearly a year of drought during which Hilo had received only 74 percent of its normal rainfall through Tuesday.