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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 12:10 p.m., Wednesday, December 31, 2003

Island revelers may need rain gear

By Robbie Dingeman and Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writers

Hawai'i folks could be lighting up their New Year’s fireworks with an umbrella in one hand.

The National Weather Service today said to expect cloudy weather and some rain with a possibility of heavy showers.

O'ahu residents already got a drenching last night.

Lead forecaster Tim Craig said this morning that Central O'ahu got the heaviest rains overnight, with more than 2 inches falling in the Waiawa and Pacific Palisades communities.

Other parts of Windward O'ahu saw even heavier rains over the 24-hour period ending this morning with a Kane'ohe station reporting nearly 4 inches of rain.

O'ahu Civil Defense reported no damage overnight and only minor flooding.

Flooding briefly closed roads at 5:30 a.m. in Waipahu at Farrington Highway and Awanui Street and at the H-1 Freeway by the Campbell off-ramp, where there was 2 feet of standing water.

Police reported seven serious and 34 minor accidents from midnight to noon today.

If the forecast holds up, the rain should limit fireworks-related problems.

"Overall, it will be wet," Craig said. "It’s not going to be continuous rain. It will be light rain here and there.

"The good thing is that everything is wet," he said. "All the ground and the roofs will be wet."

Craig said the unstable atmosphere may bring some very heavy showers at times.

The rain will ease by Sunday and last through Monday, but Craig said that relief will be short-lived.

Another cold front, although weaker, will arrive early in the week.

A high surf advisory remained in effect through 4 p.m. today for east-facing shores of all islands. Wave faces of 4 to 8 feet were expected, but should diminish by tonight.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429 and Mike Gordon at mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8012.