A park bench in Waianae Regional Park is partially submerged by floodwaters after a storm began lashing O‘ahu with heavy rainfall today. The weather service issued several warnings and watches this morning as O‘ahu residents braced for the storm’s arrival. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

The National Weather Service had warned the public all week to prepare for severe weather, including winds up to 50 mph — and the storm delivered.

"Parts of Kamehahema Highway in Hale'iwa town are under water," said North Shore resident Henry Curtis at mid-day. "It’s a massive flood."

Brought in by a cold front, the rain moved over Kaua'i first, and while it did not create significant problems there, a gust of 48 mph was recorded at Lihu'e Airport at 2:10 a.m. and authorities closed the Hanalei Bridge at 3 a.m. when the river washed over the bridge.

The entire island had significant rainfall during the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. — from 2 to 5 inches during the period, most of it overnight. Both Wailua and 'Oma'o had between 4 and 5 inches.

The weather service issued several warnings and watches this morning as O'ahu residents braced for the storm’s arrival.

The public was told what it already knew: Expect lots of lightning, thunder and heavy rain.

At 8:15 a.m., a line of heavy showers three miles west of Kaena Point prompted forecasters to issue an urban and small stream flood advisory through 11:20 a.m. By 8:55 a.m. O'ahu residents were given a flash flood warning through noon.

Curtis, whose home is in Waialua, said his neighborhood had begun to flood by 10 a.m.

"The rain is coming in horizontally," Curtis said. "We’ve had to put garbage bags over every window facing the storm. We have lightning and thunder and torrential downpours."

The showers belonged to a cold front that was moving southeast at 25 mph. The weather service predicted it would hammer the island for two to three hours. It was expected to soak Maui by this afternoon and arrive on the Big Island tonight.

Gusty winds were forecast, too. A high wind warning was in effect through 4 p.m. for Kaua'i and O'ahu. A high wind watch was in effect for Moloka'i, Maui and Lana'i.

Police closed both Kailua-bound lanes of the Pali Highway about 10:50 a.m. after a tree fell on a car on the Kailua side of the tunnels.

Leeward Coast residents felt the winds about 8 a.m.

"It’s blasting right now," lifeguard Kelly Krohne said as the front arrived. "Southwesterlies, 25 mph-plus and 4- to 8-foot seas."

On the other side of the Wai'anae Mountains in Hale'iwa, Jameson’s By the Sea employee Stacy Angros said power lines were whipped by the wind. She called the weather "treacherous."

"It’s like, raining sparks," she said. "It’s like fireworks."

Three public schools were closed: Hanalei Elementary, Wai'anae High School and Ke Kula O Samuel M. Kamakau, a small charter school on the grounds of Kokokahi YWCA. Holy Family Academy and St. Anthony schools also were closed today.

A band of thunderstorms yesterday afternoon was a precursor to today’s storm, causing minor flooding, bringing traffic to a crawl, knocking out electricity and shooting a bolt of lightning at the Kane'ohe Marine base, injuring one person.

Yesterday, about 4,000 customers in the Salt Lake and Pearl City areas lost power. All had their electricity restored by 6 p.m.

Yesterday, a bolt of lightning injured a lance corporal who was training at Marine Corps Base Hawai'i in Kane'ohe. The man, whose name was not released, was training with other Marines at the rifle range when heavy rain began to fall.

The Marines were told to leave the range and the injured man, a member of Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, was one of the last off the range, said Marine Corps spokesman Cpl. Jason Miller. The lightning struck a utility pole and then the Marine, who was about 50 feet away.

The injured man was taken to Castle Medical Center with minor injuries. He was released last night. "We’re not sure if the electricity jumped or if he just received some residual shock, but it knocked him to the ground pretty hard," said Maj. Chris Hughes.

Rain and thunderstorms pounded Waimanalo yesterday.

"The rain was heavy. My garage was flooded, and that’s the first time that ever happened," said Daniel Kapuniai, who has lived in Waimanalo for 40 years. "It was like a waterfall off my roof."

Even normally dry Honolulu Airport had 2.6 inches between noon and 3 p.m. yesterday.

Tony Roy, owner of Marmol HI Natural Stones in flood-prone Mapunapuna, was setting up a pump as rainwater began to rise at his Pu'uloa Road shop yesterday afternoon.

"We got this pump from FKS Rentals," Roy said. "We called and begged them to stay open. Their phones were ringing off the hook when we got there, so I think we got one of the last of their pumps before they closed."

A downed power line on Salt Lake Boulevard caused a power failure in several nearby neighborhoods, said Hawaiian Electric Co. spokesman Jose Dizon. About 1,700 customers lost power in the Foster Village area at 1:43 p.m., he said, and another 1,400 customers lost power at 1:50 p.m.

Communities throughout O'ahu reported brief outages.

Heavy rain hammered the USS Arizona Memorial Visitors Center about 2 p.m. with such force that officials closed it to the public 15 minutes later, said spokesman Brad Baker.

The memorial reopened this morning, but closed just before noon.

The Honolulu Fire Department responded to 26 storm-related calls yesterday, including 11 reports of flooded conditions, eight auto accidents, one car that was floating in flood water, and a lightning strike in Salt Lake, said spokesman Capt. Kenison Tejada. None of the incidents resulted in serious damage or injuries.

In Pearlridge, tons of mud and debris washed from the old Kam Drive-In Theater after a drainage system broke yesterday afternoon. The mess closed two lanes of makai-bound traffic on Kaonohi Street for several hours.