Posted on: Friday, November 26, 2004

Sudden rain possible today, weather forecaster says

By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer

An unexpected rain pelted parts of Central O'ahu and the Leeward Coast yesterday at mid-afternoon, swelling area streams and prompting a flash flood warning for the entire island.

But no serious problems were reported, and the rain had cleared by last night. Today was expected to be partly cloudy with a chance of showers, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecaster Bob Farrell said O'ahu might still see sudden rains like those that hit yesterday.

The area around Schofield Barracks got the most rain between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. yesterday, collecting 1.87 inches, according to the weather service. Next came Waiawa, where 1.7 inches of rain fell in six hours. Waiawa was followed by Lualualei with 1.55 inches and the Wheeler area with 1.42 inches.

Isolated heavy showers were reported yesterday evening in windward and central Kaua'i, the lee slopes of Haleakala on Maui and the Kona coast on the Big Island.

"The rain is a component of a system that destabilized the atmosphere, creating rain," Farrell said.

He said O'ahu is in store for trade wind weather through the weekend that will bring windward and mauka showers.

About 3 p.m. yesterday amid the rain, a sport utility vehicle flipped on the H-1 Freeway near the Kunia off-ramp. The driver required medical attention but was not seriously injured, Hono-lulu Fire Capt. Emmit Kane said.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8110.