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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 11:51 a.m., Wednesday, November 19, 2003

Expect heavy winds tonight

By Mike Gordon and Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writers

Better batten down the hatches, it’s going to be a windy evening and a little wet, too.

The National Weather Service this morning issued a advisory predicting winds of 30 to 40 mph through tonight. The rain that fell last night and much of this morning was expected to stop, although there will be a few "wet trade winds," said lead forecaster Bob Farrell.

The winds today will be stronger than those that have buffetted the Islands for the last week.

"Tie things down," Farrell suggested. "Put them inside. Put loose objects inside that you don’t want to lose. I have lost a few garbage cans this way."

The cold front that drenched much of the state today snarled morning commutes.

Toby Wakumoto, a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, said the wet weather slowed traffic all over the island. He said a few accidents occurred, with a utility pole falling at Makapu'u being the most severe.

The H-1 and H-2 freeways, Pali Highway, Likelike Highway, Kamehameha Highway, Kalaniana'ole Highway and Farrington Highway were all slow going this morning.

"With the rain and reduced visibility, it’s difficult to see the markings on the road, so it slows everything down," Wakumoto said.

The average commute into town this morning was extended by 20 to 30 minutes, officials said.

Hawaiian Electric Co. repair crews were not sure what caused a utility pole to fall on Kalaniana'ole Highway near the Makapu'u Lookout, said spokesman Jose Dizon.

The problem caused an electrical failure for about 1,300 customers in Waimanalo from 5:35 a.m. to 5:59 a.m.

Police said the pole at first did not block traffic, but then a pickup truck struck it, knocking it into the roadway. Police closed both lanes of traffic for several hours.

Dizon said repairs would take most of the day.