Maui storm updates: weather warnings, road closures, cancellations

*Monday storm updates are posted HERE.

Numerous showers, heavy at times, and thunderstorms will continue through today as a kona storm moves through the region. Bands of thunderstorms are moving through islands ahead of a vigorous cold front that will sweep through the state from northwest to southeast today, according to the National Weather Service.

Stronger thunderstorms may become severe through this afternoon with strong winds and the potential for hail. Strong southwesterly kona winds will increase ahead of the cold front, with the strongest wind speeds forecast for communities along the down wind north and east slopes of mountain areas, according to the NWS.

Periods of heavy rain with this storm will likely result in flash flooding in some areas. The forest calls for weather to improve over the western islands by Monday night and across the rest of the state by Tuesday. Fair weather and light winds expected from Wednesday through Friday.

Warnings, Watches, Advisories:

• Maui Severe Thunderstorm Warning: until 3 p.m. At 2:11 p.m, a severe thunderstorm was located over Olowalu and was moving east at 65 mph. The NWS advises that affected areas could expect damage to roofs, siding and trees. Locations in the warning area include: Kahului, Honokōhau, Kahakuloa, Hāliʻimaile, Lahaina, Makawao, Pāʻia, Wailuku, Olowalu, Waiheʻe, Kāʻanapali and Pukalani.
• Maui Severe Thunderstorm Watch: The National Weather Service extended a severe thunderstorm watch until 8 p.m. for Maui County. A severe thunderstorm watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings. Severe thunderstorms are capable of producing damaging winds of 58 mph or higher or destructive hail the size of quarters or larger.
• Special Marine Warning for the ʻAlenuihāhā Channel (between Maui and Hawaiʻi Island), Māʻalaea Bay, Mai County leeward and windward waters, and the Pailolo Channel, has been extended to 4 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. At 1:55 p.m. HST, a line of strong thunderstorms extended from 45 nautical miles north of Hāna in East Maui to 40 nautical miles SW of Lānaʻi, moving east at 20 knots. Wind gusts of nearly 50 knots are expected.
• Flood Advisory for Maui: is in effect until 5 p.m. At 1:53 p.m, radar showed a band of heavy rain moving over West Maui from the west with rain rates of 1-2 inches per hour. The band will move rapidly eastward across the rest of Maui over the next several hours.
• Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Oʻahu: until noon. At 11:35 a.m., a severe thunderstorm was located near Waipahu and Mililani and was moving east at 55 mph. The NWS advises that there are 60 mph wind gusts with the thunderstorm.
• Flood Advisory Oʻahu: has been extended until 1:45 p.m.  At 10:29 a.m., radar showed that heavy rainfall continues with rain rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour over central and north Oʻahu. Additional rainfall will move over the island from the west over the next several hours.
• Scattered strong thunderstorms on Oʻahu: through 11 a.m. At 10:32 a.m., Doppler radar was tracking scattered thunderstorms over Oʻahu. The strongest storms were near Laie and near Pearl City, moving east at 25 mph. Wind gusts up to 55 mph and pea size hail are forecast.
• Flood Warning on Hawaiʻi Island replaces earlier Flood Advisory: As of 11:04 a.m, the flood advisory for Hawaiʻi Island has been replaced with a Flat Flood Warning until 1:30 p.m. At 11:04 a.m., radar and automated rain gauges indicated heavy rain falling over the west side of the Big Island. The highest of rain rates were 1 to 2 inches per hour over the South Kohala and North Kona Districts. This rain is occurring over ground saturated from earlier rainfall. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly, especially along the Kohala Mountain Road, Highway 190 near Mile Mark 5 and 6, and Puako.
• Flood Watch remains in effect until 6 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022.
• High Surf Warning: for north and west facing shores of Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, and for the north facing shores of Maui until 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022.  The NWS is forecasting dangerously large breaking waves of 30 to 40 feet.
• Brown Water Advisory Maui: Heavy rain has resulted in stormwater runoff entering into coastal waters. The public is advised to stay out of flood waters and storm water runoff due to possible overflowing cesspools, sewer, manholes, pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, pathogens, chemicals, and associated flood debris. Not all coastal areas may be impacted by runoff, however, if the water is brown the public is advised to stay out.

Water conservation:

Water conservation request for Kaunakakai, Molokaʻi: Due to heavy rain events, the Department of Water Supply is issuing a water conservation request for Kaunakakai, Molokaʻi. Numerous power outages, have resulted in the loss of the Kualapuʻu well pump which services the Kaunakakai area.  The estimated time to assess the situation, restore the well pump back online and replenish the diminished water storage levels to meet demand is 72 hours. More here.

Road Closures:

• Storm creates hazardous conditions along Hāna Highway: Continuing stormy conditions throughout Maui County have resulted in unsafe driving conditions along Hāna Highway. Boulders, rocks and broken branches are blocking portions of the highway. Visitors are asked to postpone planned trips to Hāna until weather and road conditions have improved. Hāna residents are currently without power and dependent upon generators. There is no Wi-Fi service in the area. Streams in the Hāna area are prone to flash flooding. Flash floods can occur within minutes of excessive rainfall and can roll boulders, tear out trees, destroy bridges, and easily move heavy vehicles. Flood-producing rains can also trigger catastrophic mud slides. Most storm-related deaths are due to flash floods.  Do not drive across ponds or rushing water. Turn around, don’t drown.
• Piʻilani Highway between Kīpahulu and ʻUlupalakua: Due to flash flooding, Piʻilani HIghway between Kīpahulu and ʻUlupalukua is closed until further notice, as of 3:50 p.m. on Dec. 18, 2022. Residents in the Kaupō / Kīpahulu area are advised that the road is washed out about a mile east of Kaupō Gulch.  Road closed signage was placed from Kīpahulu to ʻUlupalukua.
• South Maui:
  • S. Kīhei Road is OPEN.  (Update 11:49 p.m., Dec. 18, 2022)
  • Kaonoulu Street remains CLOSED. (Update 11:49 p.m., Dec. 18, 2022)
• Kauhikoa and Haʻikū Road closed due to downed pole: Kauhikoa and Haʻikū Roads are closed as of 5:08 p.m. on Dec. 18, 2022 due to a fallen utility pole.  

Park, facility closures, cancellations:

Central Maui Landfill closed until further notice: The County of Maui’s Department of Environmental Management’s Solid Waste Division announced that flooding, road debris and unsafe weather conditions have closed the Central Maui Landfill until further notice.  Haulers are asked to avoid the Pūlehu Road area due to poor road conditions and approaching thunderstorms, high winds and heavy rains. An announcement will be made upon the decision to reopen the landfill when conditions permit. For additional information, phone the Solid Waste Division at 808-270-7874.

Haleakalā National Park closures due to severe weather: The Summit District of Haleakalā National Park and the Pīpīwai Trail in the Kīpahulu District are closed due to severe weather effective Dec. 18, 2022 at 4 p.m. All sunrise reservations on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022, and Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, have been canceled. All reservations for Hosmer Grove Campground, wilderness cabins, and wilderness tent camping for Dec. 19, 2022 are cancelled.

Inclement weather forces closure of the municipal golf course: The County of Maui’s Department of Parks and Recreation has announced that due to heavy rains and flooding, the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course is closed and will remain closed through Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. If weather conditions permit, the course may reopen on Wednesday, Dec. 20.

Maui County pools close due to inclement weather: Storm-generated lightning has closed all Maui County pools. Staff will  monitor conditions and follow public safety protocols.

Private facility closures:

Pacific Cancer Foundation will close today (Monday, Dec. 18, 2022) as employees live in outlying areas. Call 808-283-8390 with questions. Clients can call 911 for emergencies.

Power outages:

Widespread outages: As of 2:30 p.m., crews from Hawaiian Electric on Maui are responding to outages in the Kahului, Kīhei, Makawao, Nāpili and Kāʻanapali areas. Restoration efforts also continuing for Haʻikū to Hāna area, Upcountry, including Olinda and Piʻiholo, Kula and ʻUlupalakua as well as Olowalu and Wailuku areas. There are also outages in parts of Wailea, and the Waiʻinu-Waiʻale area.

Power restored to Pāʻia area: As of 9:40 a.m., power was restored to all customers in the Spreckelsville/Hāna Highway/Stable Road/Pāʻia Mini-bypass area. To report an outage, call the Hawaiian Electric trouble line at 871-7777.

220 without power on Maui: As of 8:10 a.m., there were about 220 customers without power in Spreckelsville, Hāna Highway, and Stable Road to the Pāʻia mini-bypass area. Crews are responding.

500 without power on Maui: As of 7:35 a.m., there are about 500 customers without power in parts of Upcountry, including Olinda and Piʻiholo, Kula and ʻUlupalakua as well as small pockets in the Haʻikū, Olowalu, Lahaina and Wailuku areas. Crews are responding. 

Shelters Close:

• Shelters have closed in both Central and South Maui: The shelters opened at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, at the War Memorial Gym in Wailuku and at Kamaliʻi Elementary School in Kīhei in response to the inclement weather. The Red Cross advises that both facilities were closed at 3:30 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 19, with no population

Original source: https://mauinow.com/2022/12/19/maui-storm-updates-weather-warnings-road-closures-cancellations/