KAILUA-KONA — A flash flood watch for all Hawaiian Islands remains in effect through 6 p.m. today due to unstable conditions brought by an upper-level low pressure system moving over the western side of the state.
The system brings the potential for more heavy rainfall, which hit West Hawaii along with thunderstorms early Monday morning.
The National Weather Service in Honolulu said the Kona International Airport rain gauge reported 0.12 inches of rain in a span of 24 hours as of 2:45 p.m. Monday.
Kona can expect anywhere from 1/10 of an inch of rain to 3/4 of an inch of rain from Monday afternoon through today under the flash flood watch.
A flash flood watch means conditions are favorable for flash flooding, which is life threatening, and officials warn the public should not cross fast-flowing water by vehicle or foot. The watch may need to be extended into Tuesday for all or portions of the island chain.
The unsettled weather pattern will persist across the island chain through today. More stability is expected tonight, but showers and a wet tradewind pattern are expected to continue through the weekend.
Breezy to windy trades are expected from Thursday through Saturday.
Surf will be 6 to 10 feet along north shores, and 4 to 6 feet along west shores through today. Surf along south shores will be 2 feet or less today and 1 to 3 feet.
Surf along east shores will be to 2 to 4 feet today.
A north-northwest swell is expected to fill in tonight and peak on Tuesday, with a larger, west-northwest to northwest swell arriving Wednesday. Forecasters say that swell will reach high surf advisory thresholds along north and west shores from late Wednesday through Thursday, and may peak near warning levels.
Surf along east shores may also near advisory levels by the end of the week.
More record highs, meanwhile, were set over the weekend. On Sunday, a record high of 87 degrees at Hilo surpassed the previous one of 86 set in 1970. A record high of 92 degrees at Kahului passed the previous one of 89 set in 1992. On Friday, a record high of 89 degrees was set in Hilo, breaking the old record of 85 in 2015.
The Star Advertiser contributed to this report
