Honolulu, HI – A powerful kona storm northwest of Hawaii is pulling deep tropical moisture toward the islands, raising the threat of flash flooding, road closures, and landslides through Saturday afternoon.
According to the National Weather Service in Honolulu, a Flood Watch is already in effect for Niihau, Kauai, and Oahu, while Maui County enters the watch Wednesday morning and the Big Island Wednesday evening. The alert continues through Saturday afternoon as bands of heavy rain and thunderstorms repeatedly move across the islands.
Forecasters say the developing kona storm is drawing a surge of moisture across the state, creating persistent rainfall bands capable of producing intense downpours. These storms may cause rapid rises in streams and drainage channels, especially in steep terrain and urban areas.
On Oahu, communities from Honolulu and the Ewa Plain to the North Shore and Windward Coast could see flooding on low-lying roads and near streams. Across Kauai, heavy rain in mountainous terrain increases the potential for runoff and landslides, particularly near valleys and narrow drainage basins.
The flood threat expands Wednesday to Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Kahoolawe, where heavy rain bands could trigger flooding in the Central Valley and windward slopes. By Wednesday evening, the risk spreads to the Big Island, including Kona, Hilo, and interior mountain regions.
Emergency officials urge residents to monitor alerts closely, avoid flooded roadways, and prepare for rapidly changing conditions as the kona storm influences weather across Hawaii through the end of the week.
