Tropical Storm Felicia is expected to cause some localized flooding from the rain, wind and high surf that will kick up tonight on the Big Island and Maui before Felicia marches on to O'ahu tomorrow morning and Kaua'i tomorrow night.

"Because it's coming in at night, we're asking residents to take extra precautions, especially for people working the night shift," said Maui County spokeswoman Mahina Martin.

County workers yesterday were moving heavy equipment to low-lying areas and clearing out storm drains in preparation.

"Felicia is still packing a punch," said Army National Guard Maj. Gen. Robert Lee, director of state Civil Defense. "Felicia has dropped down in intensity, but it's still a ... massive storm.

"We're happy to see the preparation of all the counties with clearing culverts and drains so rainwater can drain quickly."

Despite the threat of Felicia, public schools across the Islands will be open today, although education officials will reassess the situation later in the day.

Two charter schools on the Big Island — West Hawaii Explorations Academy in Kailua, Kona, and Kua O ka La in Pahoa — have decided to close, said Sandy Goya, spokeswoman for the state Department of Education.

The National Weather Service last night issued a storm watch for the main Hawaiian Islands and estimated that the winds would be 30 to 45 mph, or about three times as strong as a typical trade wind, Lee said. A storm watch means tropical storm conditions are possible within 48 hours.

At 11 p.m., the storm was about 395 miles east-northeast of Hilo and about 560 miles east of Honolulu.

Felicia at one time was a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, but was downgraded to a tropical storm.

Forecasters now estimate Felicia will get only within 100 miles of Hilo and head more toward the eastern shores of Maui.

"We're anticipating that we'll be next in line," Martin said. "The main thing is that people and businesses need to stay prepared."

The effects of Felicia already were felt along east-facing shores of Maui and the Big Island. O'ahu and Kaua'i should also see bigger surf come late tonight.

Beachfront parks on the Big Island, Maui and Kaua'i were closed yesterday. And the National Park Service closed back-country hiking trails and campgrounds at Volcanoes National Park, Haleakala National Park and Kipahulu campground. The park service will monitor conditions and reopen trails after the storm passes.

Air Force hurricane hunt- er planes brought back useful data yesterday from the center of the storm. While Felicia continued to weaken, it could still bring damaging rain and tropical-storm-force winds of around 50 mph — especially for Maui westward to Kaua'i, according to the National Weather Service.

Maui park officials yesterday closed east-facing parks at Honomanu, Ke'anae and Kipahulu Point Light Station. Depending on the weather, Maui officials would consider closing other parks, Martin said.

All county campsites and county-sponsored recrea- tion programs will be closed today by noon.