FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
At 3 p.m. yesterday, heavy rains drenched Oahu, causing the H-1 freeway to back up past Waipahu. Cars had their headlights on as it was as dark as evening.
Lightning injures a Kaneohe
Marine, while 7 inches of rain
soak Windward OahuForecasters warn that yesterday's
storm was only a preview of worse
weather yet to arrive
A fast and furious storm that soaked Oahu and caused several lightning strikes yesterday afternoon was just a preview of the real tempest to come today, forecasters said.
One lightning strike slightly injured a Kaneohe Marine who was taken to Castle Medical Center for observation.
A larger storm front was brewing to the south last night and was expected to hit Kauai this morning with showers and thunderstorms, then slowly move down the island chain until it reaches the Big Island tomorrow, according to the National Weather Service.
"You may see hail, thunder and lightning, water spouts, winds up to 40 miles per hour and gusts up to 50 miles per hour," said weather service lead forecaster Bob Farrell. "It's certainly a stronger weather system than what hit us previously."
A flash flood watch and a high-wind watch is in effect for all islands today along with a high-surf advisory for all north- and west-facing shores.
Surf is expected to reach heights of 15 to 20 feet today and could get up to 25 to 30 feet on the North Shore tomorrow.
Yesterday's showers hit Windward Oahu particularly hard, with almost 5 inches of rain in Waimanalo between noon and 4 p.m. The highest rainfall amounts were in Waimanalo, Bellows Air Force Station and Maunawili, where 4 to 7 inches fell during the 24 hours ending at 8:45 last night.
Honolulu Fire Department officials said they responded to 11 calls of flooded homes, five weather-related auto accidents and a car floating away on a flooded street near Lanikai.
"When we got there the vehicle had already been abandoned," said HFD spokesman Kenison Tejada. "They were OK, though."
BARRY MARKOWITZ / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-BULLETIN
In a weather-related accident, this SUV snarled traffic near Punaluu Beach Park about 2 p.m. yesterday after it hit a utility pole, broke a concrete barrier and flipped over.Lightning strikes also hit several times across Oahu.
Marine officials reported that at about 2 p.m. a lightning bolt knocked a Kaneohe Marine off his feet.
The lance corporal with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, had finished firing on the rifle range at Mokapu Peninsula and was cleaning up about 2 p.m. when lightning struck a pole and then traveled to a metal ammunition can he was holding, according to Marine spokesman Maj. Chris Hughes.
"The Marine received a significant jolt, but he is awake and ambulatory," he said.
Another lightning strike hit an H-1 freeway exit sign near the Diamond Head side of Honolulu Airport at 1:45 p.m.
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
Jesse King rode the surf yesterday in a channel razed open by a bulldozer at Waimea Bay. The city opened the way from the lagoon to the ocean in preparation of the storm. Behind him were fellow bodyboarders Josh Omalza and Micah Okimoto."I saw it strike one of the big green exit signs," said Honolulu resident Byron Nakano, who was near Gate 7 at the United Airlines end of the airport terminal when he saw the lightning. "It was a really bright bolt, and immediately afterward there was this giant 'crack' sound."
A third lightning strike hit a Hawaiian Electric Co. utility pole at the corner of Laulawai and Ulunei streets in Pearl City, knocking out power for 1,000 customers. HECO officials estimate a total of 4,000 customers lost power yesterday between 1:40 and 5:35 p.m. because of storm-related incidents.
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Mike Strait, left, Mike Cullen and Greg Fountain held up three mahimahi at Kewalo Basin after a rainy-day outing."We'll have some extra crews and extra customer service people to anticipate the storm (today)," said HECO spokesman Peter Rosegg.
Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Ishikawa said that the bad weather delayed several interisland flights at Honolulu Airport. Most domestic flights were also pushed back about 15 minutes behind schedule.
Despite all of the weather-generated chaos yesterday, meteorologists said the worst should hit Oahu today and during the weekend.
"That was just a precursor," said Tim Craig, also a lead forecaster at the weather service. "It's not over."
Star-Bulletin reporter Gregg Kakesako contributed to this report.
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