Posted on: Monday, March 28, 2005

Winds may flare again by weekend

By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer

The gusting trade winds that blew through the state over the weekend knocked out power in some areas on the Big Island Saturday but caused no apparent damage on O'ahu.

According to the National Weather Service, gusts in some areas topped 30 mph.

"It's not unusual to see that," said Derek Wroe, weather service forecaster. "We'll get a day or two of strong winds, then it will calm down, but we will see trade winds. They have settled in and are here for the long haul."

Wroe said the winds should taper off tomorrow, settling more by late Wednesday. But he said the winds will pick back up again heading into the weekend.

The gusty conditions are due to high-pressure systems coming from the north and stirring up the already active trade winds.

On the Big Island, the wind toppled trees into power lines in several areas. At 2:31 p.m. Saturday, about 1,500 customers in the Hawaiian Beaches area had power cut after a tree fell across power lines along the Kea'au-Pahoa Highway. Hawaii Electric Light Co. restored power by 3:54 p.m.

At 12:20 a.m. yesterday, about 600 customers in the Nanawale Estates area lost power when a tree fell across power lines along Forest Road. HELCO crews had power restored by 5:20 a.m.

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