Heavy rains prompt flash flood warning for Kauai, flood advisory for Oahu

Mar. 13—UPDATE : 12 :10 p.m.

The National Weather Service has extended the flash flood warning for Kauai until 2 p.m. today.

"At 12 :07 p.m, rainfall has eased over south Kauai. However, stream and river gauges continued to show high water levels, " the warning said. "Runoff levels will remain high, especially from Lihue to Hanapepe for a few more hours."

The warning covers Lihue, Kapaa, Kalaheo, Kekaha, Kilauea, North Fork Wailua Trails, Wailua Homesteads, Omao, Lawai, Koloa, Wailua, Poipu, Hanapepe, Anahola, Moloaa, Waimea, Puhi, Wailua River State Park, Hanamaulu and Eleele.

11 :40 a.m.

Heavy rain over Central and Windward Oahu has prompted another flood advisory for the island through this afternoon.

Radar at 11 :22 a.m. showed heavy rain over Oahu, with the most intense rainfall over Mililani and Kahana at rates up to 1 to 2 inches per hour, the National Weather Service said.

Rainfall will continue to develop over Central and Leeward Oahu over the next several hours before moving northeastward to Windward Oahu.

Locations in the advisory include, but are not limited to, Honolulu, Waiahole, Waikane, Pearl City, Aiea, Kahaluu, Ahuimanu, Halawa, Mililani, Waikele, Moanalua, Salt Lake, Wahiawa, Kaaawa, Waipahu, Wheeler Field, Kunia, Punaluu, Kalihi and Kaneohe.

11 :25 a.m.

Heavy rainfall has prompted another flash flood warning for the island of Kauai through this afternoon.

Radar at 11 :02 a.m. showed very heavy rainfall across southeast Kauai with the most intense rainfall over the area from Lihue to Kalaheo, according to the National Weather Service. Peak rain rates were measured at up to 2 to 3 inches per hour.

Kauai Emergency Management reported flooding on multiple roads on the south side of the island.

8 :55 a.m.

The flood advisory for Oahu has been canceled, however, a flood advisory has been posted for the island of Kauai.

Radar at 8 :51 a.m. showed heavy rainfall moving over Kauai from the southwest at rates up to 1 inch per hour, according to the National Weather Service.

A more intense band of rainfall with rain falling at rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour is approaching the island from the west, weather officials said. The band should reach the west side of the island with an hour and move across the island.

Earlier radar images of Oahu showed heavy rain had diminished over the island.

7 :30 a.m.

The flash flood warning for the island of Kauai has been canceled.

The heavy rain over the island has ended and flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat, according to the National Weather Service.

However, Kauai, along with the rest of the state, remains under a flash flood watch through 6 a.m. Saturday.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE Kauai is under a flash flood warning, while most of the islands are under a flash flood watch. Oahu is under a flood advisory until 8 :30 a.m.

At 5 :29 a.m., the National Weather Service's radar showed heavy rain over east Oahu from the Honolulu Airport to Waikiki to Hawaii Kai, with rainfall at a clip of 1 inch per hour at its heaviest.

The areas include Honolulu, Manoa, Maunawili, Kalihi, Kaneohe, Palolo, Moanalua, Ahuimanu, Kailua, Waimanalo, Salt Lake, Halawa, Kahaluu, Aiea, Kaneohe Marine Base, Waiahole, Hawaii Kai, Pearl City, Nuuanu and Makiki-Tantalus.

The National Weather Service's radar showed at 5 :04 a.m. today that heavy rain over the southeast slopes of Kauai from Waimea to Poipu to Kapaa.

Rain was coming down at 1 to 2 inches an hour.

The Wailua River has risen to a very high level and is continuing to go up.

Flash flooding is occurring or expected to start soon, the weather service said shortly after 5 a.m. today.

Flash flooding will be occurring at Lihue, Kapaa, Kalaheeo, Omao, Lawai, Koloa, Poipu, North Fork, Wailua Trails, Wailua Homesteads, Hanapepe, Wailua, Waimea, Anahola, Puhi, Hanamaulu, Wailua River State Park, Eleele, Kaumakani, Pakala Village and Kealia.

The flash flood warning for Kauai is in effect until at least 8 :15 a.m., and may be extended should flooding persist.

All other areas throughout the state are under a flash flood watch until 6 a.m. Saturday.

The Weather Service says that a low located west of Kauai is keeping the atmosphere moist and unstable, while a cold front is approaching, which explains the potential for localized intense rainfall and flash flooding.

People should be prepared for significant flooding from overflowing streams and drainages. Roads may be closed and property damage may occur in urban and low-lying areas due to runoff.

Also, landslides could occur in areas with steep terrain.