Posted on: Sunday, June 8, 2003

Central O'ahu hit by weak tornado

By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer

While parts of Honolulu baked yesterday afternoon, Central O'ahu saw a lot of rain and even a rare, brief tornado.

By 4 p.m. Wahiawa, Mili-lani and parts of Kunia had been soaked with 2.3 inches of rain in just 2" hours, causing zero visibility and hydroplaning on H-1 Freeway, police said. The rain also triggered a funnel cloud that touched down and became a weak tornado, said Bob Farrell of the National Weather Service.

A weather service spotter in 'Aiea identified the tornado along the Ko'olau Range, headed toward Pearl City.

"If it hadn't been a spotter," Farrell said, "I never would have believed it."

The weather service issued a tornado warning from 3:06 to 3:30 p.m., but no injuries or damage were reported.

"They're fairly rare here," Farrell said. "You get one every couple of years, and usually they're fairly small."

Funnel clouds, tornados and water spouts are caused by the rapid growth of cumulus clouds, Farrell said. A sudden and strong updraft from the clouds pulls the air from below, causing it to spiral up from the ground.