Heavy rain over the slopes of North and South Kona, Ka’u and the Hamakua coast Wednesday afternoon has prompted a flash flood warning for Hawaii Island until at least 7:45 p.m.
Heavy rain over the slopes of North and South Kona, Ka’u and the Hamakua coast Wednesday afternoon has prompted a flash flood warning for Hawaii Island until at least 7:45 p.m.
At 1:50 p.m., radar showed heavy rain over the slopes of the North and South Kona districts with rainfall rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour. The rainfall is occurring over areas saturated by previous rainfall. Normally dry drainage ditches and stream channels will flow quickly. Runoff may result in the closing of roads in the area, especially near Waiaha, Holualoa and Honalo. At 5 p.m., the National Weather Service reported that Highway 19 near Papaaloa was closed due to flooding of a bridge near the 23 mile marker.
A flash flood warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring in streams, roads and low-lying areas. The public is advised to avoid any unnecessary travel and to move to higher ground.