StarBulletin.com

Weather prompts notices of flash floods, high winds


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POSTED: Wednesday, November 11, 2009

A weather system approaching the Hawaiian Islands spurred a host of advisories from the National Weather Service yesterday.

Forecasters issued a flash flood watch for all islands, a flood advisory for Oahu, a wind advisory for Kauai and winter storm and high-wind watches for the summits of the Big Island.

Weather radar showed heavy rain along the Koolaus last night. The advisory, issued at 7:42 p.m., included Waimanalo, Kaneohe, Waiahole, Wahiawa and Hauula.

The flash flood watch for the Big Island began at noon yesterday and was extended to the other islands, according to the weather service.

The watch for all islands goes through late tomorrow night.

“;Heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop as a strong upper-level low develops north of the islands tonight and tracks over the islands Wednesday. The upper low will remain near the islands through at least Thursday, continuing the threat for flash flooding,”; the advisory said.

In addition to the flash flood watch, the summits of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea on the Big Island will be under a winter storm watch from this morning through tomorrow morning, according to the weather service.

Kauai was under a wind advisory through last night, with winds up to 35 mph and possibly higher gusts expected, forecasters said.