HILO — Hilo had its wettest August in a quarter-century, according to a report released Thursday by the National Weather Service.
The rain gauge at Hilo International Airport registered 24.68 inches last month, two-and-a-half times the August average and the highest total since 1991. Records for August rainfall totals were broken at Waiakea Uka, with 29.82 inches, Glenwood, with 28.86 inches, and Mountain View, with 26.48 inches.
“It’s pretty much wiped out most of the rainfall deficits that occurred earlier in the year,” said Kevin Kodama, hydrologist for the NWS Honolulu office. “We had the El Nino-related drought early in the year, and we had some pretty significant rainfall deficits right off the bat for 2016. But, as a result of the spring and summer, that’s pretty much all gone.
“As of this week, the last remaining area of drought on the Big Island was removed.”
Kodama was referring to South Point, which received just over 4 inches of rain, as opposed to 2.55 inches for a normal August.
“Over the past couple of months, with the tropical systems coming by and it just being rainy, things have been getting better for them,” he said.
Pahala, which also was a point of impact for Tropical Storm Darby and a near-miss point for Tropical Storm Madeline, had an usually rainy month with 8.29 inches, 240 percent of its norm of 3.46 inches. Kapapala Ranch near Pahala, got almost three-and-a-half times its normal August rainfall, with 12.12 inches.
At the end of August, Hilo airport had a 68.12 inch rainfall total for the year, and Mountain View checked in at just under 96 inches, both about 85 percent of their average. Glenwood, one of the traditionally rainiest populated areas of the island, had 98.46 inches, about 68 percent of its average.
LocationAug. rainAvg.% Avg.
Hilo Int’l Airport24.689.85251
Waiakea Uka29.8217.11174
Piihonua27.615.65176
Hakalau14.117.05200
Laupahoehoe10.2111.5289
Honokaa1.876.1331
Mountain View26.4813.64194
Glenwood28.8618.37157
Pahoa17.2110.17169
Waimea4.683.6130
Kohala Ranch1.490.62240
Kahua Ranch0.714.6515
Kapapala Ranch12.123.44352
Pahala8.293.46240
South Point4.022.55158
Kahuku Ranch2.672.6999
Honaunau7.185.83123
Kealakekua6.96.05114
Kainaliu5.665.8397
Keahole-Kona airport1.671.39120
Puuanahulu0.541.2543
Puuwaawaa5.471.18464
Source: National Weather Service