Posted on: Wednesday, May 22, 2002

East Kaua'i hit by strong rain

Advertiser Staff

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — An unexpected afternoon downpour flooded roads in east central Kaua'i yesterday, but the rain was gone within hours.

County officials closed Kahuna Road in the Kapa'a area in the early afternoon, after parts of the road flooded. Downed power lines cut electricity to some residents of the area.

The road was reopened by midafternoon, and the rain moved over the Lihu'e area, and then eastward out to sea.

Gauges indicated an inch of rain fell in a short time.

National Weather Service meteorologist Norman Hui said the drenching was the result of an unstable air mass and normal afternoon heating of the land.

He said a ridge of high pressure near the Islands should give most of the islands clear weather through the Memorial Day weekend, with light winds.