Flooding from heavy rainfall on Kaua'i forced evacuations yesterday, closed bridges and affected water service to residents from Wainiha to Ha'ena.

The situation improved on the Big Island, which received a drenching on Saturday. More than 100 homes there had some type of water damage, Big Island officials said.

The National Weather Service said the state could expect more rainy weather until the middle of the week.

Kaua'i was under a flash-flood warning last night, and the weather service issued a flash-flood watch for all other islands, effective until 6 p.m. today.

"The situation on Kaua'i poses a danger to life and property," weather service lead forecaster Sam Houston said yesterday evening.

There were reports of flooding, bridge closings and losses of drinking water.

The weather service said there were reports of evacuations in the Waimea and Hanapepe valleys. Kaua'i police said there had been evacuations in Hanapepe Valley.

Kaua'i County spokeswoman Mary Daubert said residents of three or four houses in Hanapepe Valley had been advised to evacuate. One person reported flooding in his Wainiha Valley home, she said.

Daubert said the Kaumakani Neighborhood center was opened as a Red Cross emergency shelter for people on the Westside who needed shelter.

Vice Director Edward T. Teixeira said state Civil Defense was monitoring the weather situation. A Hawai'i National Guard liaison officer has been sent to Kaua'i at the request of Civil Defense officials on the Garden Island, Teixeira said.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, the 24-hour rainfall recorded at Mount Wai'ale'ale was 11 inches, with 6.7 inches falling in a six-hour period, said Houston.

The water draining from the mountain, combined with heavy rainfall over an extended period, increased the potential for heavy flooding. Rivers were out of their banks, the weather service said.

Conditions on the north and west sides of the island were described as "very bad."

The Hanalei Bridge Road, closed late yesterday afternoon, was reopened last night, with police escorting vehicles across.

At about 6 p.m., a 40-foot Matson container was floating down the Hanapepe River and hit two bridges, said Daubert.

Earlier in the afternoon, there were reports of flash-flooding near Hanalei, where rain was falling at a rate of about 3 inches an hour.

The Wainiha bridges were closed briefly yesterday morning due to the river overflowing its banks and going onto the roadway, Kaua'i officials said.

Meanwhile, a break in a water main under the Wainiha Bridge, caused by flooding, resulted in reduced water pressure or no water to residents from Wainiha to Ha'ena. Wainiha residents along Ananalu and portions of Kuhio Highway will be without water, possibly through today, according to Department of Water spokeswoman Faith Shiramizu.

Efforts to repair the main were being hampered by high stream levels and flooding.

The situation was not as bad on other islands, but it could worsen quickly because of the unstable weather conditions, Houston said.

All major highways were open to traffic on the Big Island yesterday morning, but several roads still remained closed in Hilo, including Kamehameha Avenue downtown, according to the most recent advisory issued by Big Island Civil Defense.

Big Island Mayor Harry Kim, who also is serving as the interim director of county Civil Defense, estimated yesterday that about 100 to 150 homes sustained some kind of water damage from the heavy rains that fell over Ka'u, Hilo and Puna during the previous 48 hours.

"The rains started subsiding last night just as we were at the threshold of decision-making for mandatory evacuations," Kim said yesterday. "Water levels are decreasing. We're in good shape now."

Red Cross volunteers were scouring homes on the Big Island to determine if anyone needed help and to obtain a clearer picture of the extent of the damage from the storm.

"Hopefully, now that we've had 12 hours or less of no rain, that will help us if more rain comes," Kim said.

Kamehameha Avenue to Aupuni Street, Pauahi Street and East Kawailani Street were among the roadways around Hilo closed to traffic. Motorists were using alternate routes.

Dwayne Hosaka, of Big Island Civil Defense, reported no electrical failures or major problems at 6 p.m.

A brown-water advisory was issued from Laupahoehoe Point through Leleiwi Beach Park due to very heavy storm water runoff, flooding, overflowing sewer manholes, cesspools and a bypass of disinfected but not treated sewage from the Hilo (Puhi Bay) Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The public was advised to stay out of any brown coastal waters for the next several days.