Heavy rains forecast through weekend

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

You'll likely need an umbrella with your Easter finery this weekend.

Heavy showers and possibly thunderstorms are in the forecast for the state through Sunday, and stormy weather is expected to linger through early next week, the National Weather Service said.

Wet weather is predicted to sweep through Kaua'i tomorrow, move to O'ahu tomorrow and Maui County through Sunday, said lead forecaster Bob Farrell.

Farrell warned that a flash flood watch could be posted this weekend for Kaua'i and O'ahu, depending on how bad the rain gets.

A low-pressure system forming northwest of the Hawaiian Islands is causing a kona storm and the rainy weather, Farrell said.

"It looks like we'll have a wet Easter," said forecaster Sam Houston.

Houston said the storm would likely increase surf on north- and northwest-facing shores, with wave faces 15 feet or higher, but the waves could be messy as the storm passes through.

Runoff from streams and rivers will likely make surrounding ocean waters murky again on Kaua'i, so beachgoers should be careful, Farrell said.

On Monday a shark attacked 17-year-old Kaua'i student Hokuanu Aki at Brennecke Beach.

Officials said the murky ocean conditions created by recent rain may have lured the shark near shore.