StarBulletin.com

Isles to soak in humidity and showers


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POSTED: Thursday, August 13, 2009

The remnants of tropical cyclone Felicia will pull a humid southeast wind across the state today, creating a muggy day with scattered showers, according to the National Weather Service.

The low-pressure area associated with former Hurricane Felicia lumbered between Oahu and Kauai last night and was expected to bring more overnight rain. All islands except the Big Island were under a flash flood watch until late last night.

As the low-pressure area moves away, tradewinds will strengthen, shifting showers to windward and mauka areas tomorrow. Regular tradewinds will return this weekend, said Tom Birchard, weather service lead forecaster.

The storm brought a good soaking to all islands yesterday except the Big Island, the weather service said. Windward areas received most of the rainfall, mostly between 1 and 4 inches.

By 5 p.m. on Kauai, Mount Waialeale had received nearly 5 inches of rainfall, the most on the island. Other areas had 2 inches or less.

On Oahu, Oahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge in the northern Koolaus recorded nearly 9 inches of rain over 24 hours, the most in the state. Upper Nuuanu and Manoa Lyon Arboretum both received about 4 inches; other areas saw less than 2 inches.

As the remnants of Felicia move away, another storm is brewing east of Hawaii.

About 2,400 miles east of Hilo, Tropical Storm Guillermo was moving at about 16 mph in a west-northwest direction. Maximum winds were about 40 mph, with higher gusts. Models showed Guillermo will not strengthen into a hurricane.

Any impacts from the tropical cyclone activity in the eastern Pacific would not be experienced until the middle of next week, the weather service said.